Conservation and Beautification
The Dolley Madison Garden Club works alongside the Garden Club of America and the Garden Club of Virginia to promote responsible environmental stewardship and to aid in efforts to "restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment" through engagement with the community and with legislators.
Conservation News and Events
Field of Sunflowers:
Member, Catherine Brooks, shared her sunflower field story. "It was too wet to plant corn or beans so we decided to put in the sunflowers. It was just a bag of regular old sunflower seed from the Co-op but it flourished. I think it turned out to be a cheerful and pretty field that made people happy to look at. We had lots of people stopping, taking photos and even walking into the flowers. It turned out to be a civic uplift!"
Sunflowers are an important food source for birds and pollinators, noted Conservation Chairman and Club President, Carla Passarello. Goldfinches and wrens particularly love them. Sunflowers provide essential oils that help the wrens prepare for winter travel and have a deep taproot system that helps break up soil layers and brings more and different kinds of beneficial bacteria, fungi and microbes than our typical crops do. The spent stalks are a good source of fiber. The native variety Helianthus annuus L. is especially important for native pollinators. There is a variety called "Lemon Queen" that is readily available from most seed companies.
Member, Catherine Brooks, shared her sunflower field story. "It was too wet to plant corn or beans so we decided to put in the sunflowers. It was just a bag of regular old sunflower seed from the Co-op but it flourished. I think it turned out to be a cheerful and pretty field that made people happy to look at. We had lots of people stopping, taking photos and even walking into the flowers. It turned out to be a civic uplift!"
Sunflowers are an important food source for birds and pollinators, noted Conservation Chairman and Club President, Carla Passarello. Goldfinches and wrens particularly love them. Sunflowers provide essential oils that help the wrens prepare for winter travel and have a deep taproot system that helps break up soil layers and brings more and different kinds of beneficial bacteria, fungi and microbes than our typical crops do. The spent stalks are a good source of fiber. The native variety Helianthus annuus L. is especially important for native pollinators. There is a variety called "Lemon Queen" that is readily available from most seed companies.
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MONARCH BUTTERFLY IN THE GARDEN - Member Joanne Davies, an ardent conservationist, ensures her garden has ample milkweed to attract and support Monarch Butterflies. As she worked in her garden, she carried what appeared to be a spent bit of milkweed toward her compost pile. She discovered a Monarch chrysalis. Carefully shielding the chrysalis, she carried it to her porch and watched over it. Her careful monitoring of the chrysalis allowed her to observe and photograph the emerging Monarch adult. Her photos, above, tell the story.
2020 Asian Giant Hornet ("Murder Hornet") found in Washington State
A new threat to bee populations, the Asian giant hornet, has been located in the Pacific Northwest. This hornet is known to decimate bee hives by swarming the hive and decapitating the bees and using the dead bees as a food source. Because the threat is new, there is hope that the hornets can be stopped before becoming established in the US. (Photo credit KOMO News)
A new threat to bee populations, the Asian giant hornet, has been located in the Pacific Northwest. This hornet is known to decimate bee hives by swarming the hive and decapitating the bees and using the dead bees as a food source. Because the threat is new, there is hope that the hornets can be stopped before becoming established in the US. (Photo credit KOMO News)
Henbit and Purple Deadnettle - Food sources for pollinators
These two plants, Lamium amplexicaule and Lamium purpureum, are related to the mint family and are considered by many to be nuisance weeds. But pollinators, especially honey bees and bumble bees, use these plants as food. Henbit provides pollen and nectar while Purple Deadnettle is a nectar source. (Photo of Purple Deadnettle by MS Queitzsch)
These two plants, Lamium amplexicaule and Lamium purpureum, are related to the mint family and are considered by many to be nuisance weeds. But pollinators, especially honey bees and bumble bees, use these plants as food. Henbit provides pollen and nectar while Purple Deadnettle is a nectar source. (Photo of Purple Deadnettle by MS Queitzsch)
Pollinators are important to the planet. Bees, moths, birds, bats, flies, and more make up the pollinator community. To see some stunning pollinator photography, you might enjoy this youtube on the Beauty of Pollinators. (Photo of bee in flower by Jane Hammond)
2019 GCV Conservation Educator Award Winner - James Jones
The Garden Club of Virginia awarded Natural Bridge State Park Manager, James E. Jones, the GCV Conservation Educator Award for 2019. Jones was recognized for his work in increasing the visibility and popularity of the Natural Bridge located in Rockbridge County, VA. The bridge is renowned for its historic significance to the Monacan Tribe as a sacred site and is considered by some as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The Garden Club of Virginia awarded Natural Bridge State Park Manager, James E. Jones, the GCV Conservation Educator Award for 2019. Jones was recognized for his work in increasing the visibility and popularity of the Natural Bridge located in Rockbridge County, VA. The bridge is renowned for its historic significance to the Monacan Tribe as a sacred site and is considered by some as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Beekeeping and Honey - Diego Decorte at Monteith
Beekeeper and honey producer, Diego Decorte, spoke at Monteith about the need to re-establish bee colonies to provide hope for the future of nature and humans. Nature is challenged by the impacts of humans but humans rely on nature - air, water, soil, plants - for survival. Bees are crucial pollinators for the plants humans rely on. Bees need a mix of trees and flowering plants to thrive. Treeless fields do not provide tree pollen which is crucial for bee nutrition. Both nectar (sugars) and pollen (carbohydrates) are key components for healthy bee populations. A diversity of plants is critical to ensure that bees with specialized plant needs are provided for. Honey is a superfood. Its natural properties keep it edible for humans for long periods provided the honey has not been heated. Because pasteurization is a process that can remove some of the benefits of natural honey,the ability to market non-pasteurized honey is important for honey producers.
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Permanent Continuation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Passed Years of work by the Garden Club of America and its member clubs, including the Dolley Madison Garden Club, and many partners have succeeded in helping achieve a bipartisan piece of legislation that permanently continues the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The fund was created in 1965 to set aside monies to be used to mitigate damages from Energy and Mining companies extracting resources from Federal publicly owned lands, seashores and National Parks, and to acquire new public lands. Its permanent continuation ensures that monies will continue to be put into the fund and those monies used for mitigation and acquisition. This bipartisan piece of legislation has been called " the biggest piece of conservation legislation since the 1970's." |
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Conservation Issues
Winter Garden “not so” Clean-up
This has been a great season for Monarch reproduction, but be careful: many Monarchs still have Chrysalis in progress on your plant material. Give it a few more weeks before you begin garden clean-up. Take a moment, take a breath, and think about all the insects and wildlife that depend on what we consider “garden debris” to make it through the winter.
Most current Landscape Architects and Garden Designers encourage leaving as much spent material standing as possible throughout the winter months to provide cover and food sources for over-wintering insect and bird populations. Try to train your eye to see the architectural beauty of skeletal forms of tall perennials like echinacea and rudbeckia, and leave their seed heads intact for nuthatches, finches and mockingbirds to survive the winter months. Commercial seed is too limited and nutritionally empty to support them through the winter.
So you’re not being lazy - you are doing a very important good to provide essential species survival!
This has been a great season for Monarch reproduction, but be careful: many Monarchs still have Chrysalis in progress on your plant material. Give it a few more weeks before you begin garden clean-up. Take a moment, take a breath, and think about all the insects and wildlife that depend on what we consider “garden debris” to make it through the winter.
Most current Landscape Architects and Garden Designers encourage leaving as much spent material standing as possible throughout the winter months to provide cover and food sources for over-wintering insect and bird populations. Try to train your eye to see the architectural beauty of skeletal forms of tall perennials like echinacea and rudbeckia, and leave their seed heads intact for nuthatches, finches and mockingbirds to survive the winter months. Commercial seed is too limited and nutritionally empty to support them through the winter.
So you’re not being lazy - you are doing a very important good to provide essential species survival!
Boxwood Blight alert!
Courtesy of Dan Gregg, Founder of Grelen Nursery, Inc.
What is Boxwood Blight? First introduced to the United States in 2011, Boxwood blight (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum) is a serious plant disease (fungus) which results in the defoliation and eventual death of exposed plants. Plants affected by this fungus are all in the Buxaceae family including Buxus (Boxwood), Sarcococca (Sweet Box) and Pachysandra. How does Boxwood Blight spread? The disease spreads via fungal spores which move from place to place during wet conditions with the assistance from strong wind, animals (both wild and domestic), lawn care equipment, landscaping equipment and pruning equipment. Basically anything which comes into contact with an infected plant during wet conditions is likely to have spores attach to it, and hence, potentially introduce the spores to new host plants in its path. Why do you need to know about Boxwood Blight? Boxwood Blight has recently exploded in the Central Virginia region due to the very wet conditions we have experienced this summer and fall. Boxwood Blight is currently devastating landscapes in neighborhoods of Lynchburg and Charlottesville, and we expect other neighborhoods will be impacted in the coming weeks. What can you do? If you have Boxwood in your yard and gardens - Reach out to the local Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and ask if any Boxwood Blight cases have been confirmed in your local vicinity; Inspect your property to see if you have plants which appear to be infected (see photos below). If you determine that you may have infected plants, call the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service to confirm diagnosis; If you see no sign of the disease but the VA Cooperative Extension Service confirms that you have Boxwood Blight in your area, start a preventative spray program immediately using a local plant health care specialist; If Boxwood Blight is confirmed to be on your property, hire a qualified company to remove infected plants and spray to reduce risk of the disease’s spread. DO NOT ALLOW UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY TO REMOVE PLANTS AS YOU WILL BE RISKING YOUR PROPERTY AND NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES TO THE ADDITIONAL SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.Pruning and hauling infected limbs without proper bagging and disposal will increase the risk of spread; Finally, going forward LIMIT ACCESS your property to lawn, landscape and pruning companies who are very familiar with Boxwood Blight and are knowledgeable as to how to prevent the spread of the disease.
Courtesy of Dan Gregg, Founder of Grelen Nursery, Inc.
What is Boxwood Blight? First introduced to the United States in 2011, Boxwood blight (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum) is a serious plant disease (fungus) which results in the defoliation and eventual death of exposed plants. Plants affected by this fungus are all in the Buxaceae family including Buxus (Boxwood), Sarcococca (Sweet Box) and Pachysandra. How does Boxwood Blight spread? The disease spreads via fungal spores which move from place to place during wet conditions with the assistance from strong wind, animals (both wild and domestic), lawn care equipment, landscaping equipment and pruning equipment. Basically anything which comes into contact with an infected plant during wet conditions is likely to have spores attach to it, and hence, potentially introduce the spores to new host plants in its path. Why do you need to know about Boxwood Blight? Boxwood Blight has recently exploded in the Central Virginia region due to the very wet conditions we have experienced this summer and fall. Boxwood Blight is currently devastating landscapes in neighborhoods of Lynchburg and Charlottesville, and we expect other neighborhoods will be impacted in the coming weeks. What can you do? If you have Boxwood in your yard and gardens - Reach out to the local Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and ask if any Boxwood Blight cases have been confirmed in your local vicinity; Inspect your property to see if you have plants which appear to be infected (see photos below). If you determine that you may have infected plants, call the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service to confirm diagnosis; If you see no sign of the disease but the VA Cooperative Extension Service confirms that you have Boxwood Blight in your area, start a preventative spray program immediately using a local plant health care specialist; If Boxwood Blight is confirmed to be on your property, hire a qualified company to remove infected plants and spray to reduce risk of the disease’s spread. DO NOT ALLOW UNQUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY TO REMOVE PLANTS AS YOU WILL BE RISKING YOUR PROPERTY AND NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES TO THE ADDITIONAL SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.Pruning and hauling infected limbs without proper bagging and disposal will increase the risk of spread; Finally, going forward LIMIT ACCESS your property to lawn, landscape and pruning companies who are very familiar with Boxwood Blight and are knowledgeable as to how to prevent the spread of the disease.
Invasive Plant alerts!
Giant Hogweed has been sighted in several parts of Virginia with 2 serious cases reported in Fredericksburg. It is a member of the wild carrot family native to Asia and can reach heights of 6-10 feet or more. It looks like a giant Queen Anne's Lace. It is highly toxic! Do not touch, pull, brush against, or weed-whack this plant. Do not try to remove this plant by yourself. Direct contact with this plant sensitizes the skin to the sun and leaves 3rd degree burns. If you see or suspect this plant, contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Office. For more photos and information you can visit www.vainvasivespecies.org/species/giant-hogweed. (Photo is by Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft.)
Spotted Knapweed , a non- toxic invasive plant, has been sighted in Orange County. It is an invasive biennial in the aster family that is commonly found along farm lanes, woodland roads, and fields. It releases a toxin that prevents other nearby plants from growing and impairs native flora. Removing this plant before seeding is crucial. This plant may be pulled or weed whacked while flowering but before seed sets.
Giant Hogweed has been sighted in several parts of Virginia with 2 serious cases reported in Fredericksburg. It is a member of the wild carrot family native to Asia and can reach heights of 6-10 feet or more. It looks like a giant Queen Anne's Lace. It is highly toxic! Do not touch, pull, brush against, or weed-whack this plant. Do not try to remove this plant by yourself. Direct contact with this plant sensitizes the skin to the sun and leaves 3rd degree burns. If you see or suspect this plant, contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Office. For more photos and information you can visit www.vainvasivespecies.org/species/giant-hogweed. (Photo is by Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft.)
Spotted Knapweed , a non- toxic invasive plant, has been sighted in Orange County. It is an invasive biennial in the aster family that is commonly found along farm lanes, woodland roads, and fields. It releases a toxin that prevents other nearby plants from growing and impairs native flora. Removing this plant before seeding is crucial. This plant may be pulled or weed whacked while flowering but before seed sets.
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Garden revolution: Rethink your garden The take-away from this year's Shenandoah Valley Plant Symposium is to rethink how you garden. Claudia West, author of “Gardening in the Post Wild World” and Larry Weaner, celebrated landscape architect, encouraged every home gardener to consider wildlife and the insect world when designing a landscape. They urged gardeners to :reduce lawn size, leave fields natural for habitat; plant for low-maintenance, mostly native plants which require less water and no soil amendments or fertilizer; choose plants with similar needs for the same area, for example drought tolerant catmint and rudbeckia; plant densely to preserve moisture and suppress weeds, use ground cover plants instead of mulch; and plant native shrubs, berries and trees to provide food and cover for pollinators and wildlife. And you can learn more by reading Larry Weaner’s new book Garden Revolution available on Amazon. |
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Save the Bees: Avoid Neonicotinoids in your yard and garden
Neonicotinoids (or neonics) are insecticides that use neuro-active ingredients to affect the central nervous system of insects to cause death. Neonics include acetamiprid, clothianidin, imadacloprid (one of the most widely used of the neonics), nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid, and thiamethoam. The most comprehensive study to date of the impact of neonics, completed this year in Europe, concluded that neonicotinoids are devastating to both honeybee and native bee populations. Neonics can be found in seeds and plants sold at many stores and gardening centers and in many products, including non-organic products used to treat roses. Neonic residues can persist in plants and soil for up to six years and are poisonous to pollinators that are essential to our ecosystem and economy. Some pollinators, like the monarch caterpillar, may die after only two or three bites of neonicotinoid treated plant.
Garden Club of America Calls For Action to Restrict Neonicotinoids.
On May 5th, 2017, the GCA’s executive board asked the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture to restrict neonicotinoid use in the US. The letter stressed the importance of pollinators and their role in society. GCA, concerned that consumers lack awareness of the impact of neonics on pollinators and neonic residues in plants they purchase, called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take action to regulate neonics. The goal is to stop plant distributors from using neonicotinoids, or at a minimum, to require labeling if neonics have been used to treat a plant so that a buyer can make an informed decision.
Neonicotinoids (or neonics) are insecticides that use neuro-active ingredients to affect the central nervous system of insects to cause death. Neonics include acetamiprid, clothianidin, imadacloprid (one of the most widely used of the neonics), nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid, and thiamethoam. The most comprehensive study to date of the impact of neonics, completed this year in Europe, concluded that neonicotinoids are devastating to both honeybee and native bee populations. Neonics can be found in seeds and plants sold at many stores and gardening centers and in many products, including non-organic products used to treat roses. Neonic residues can persist in plants and soil for up to six years and are poisonous to pollinators that are essential to our ecosystem and economy. Some pollinators, like the monarch caterpillar, may die after only two or three bites of neonicotinoid treated plant.
Garden Club of America Calls For Action to Restrict Neonicotinoids.
On May 5th, 2017, the GCA’s executive board asked the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture to restrict neonicotinoid use in the US. The letter stressed the importance of pollinators and their role in society. GCA, concerned that consumers lack awareness of the impact of neonics on pollinators and neonic residues in plants they purchase, called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take action to regulate neonics. The goal is to stop plant distributors from using neonicotinoids, or at a minimum, to require labeling if neonics have been used to treat a plant so that a buyer can make an informed decision.
Tips to Conserve
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University of Florida research shows that landscape shrubs just need 1 gallon of water per week to establish strong roots and a healthy plant.
It takes about 28 weeks before a shrub or woody perennial is mature enough to survive without irrigation. The UF study concluded that no more than 1 gallon of water per week is necessary to establish strong roots and a healthy plant. Any more water simply becomes run-off and does not benefit the plant. Both native and non-native species were included in the study. Interestingly, native status made no difference in the amount of water needed for establishment. And the study showed that more frequent, lighter watering was actually better for the establishment phase then the deep infrequent watering traditionally recommended. |
Tips to Save Energy
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A few simple steps each day can help you save energy. You can keep your exterior doors and windows closed when the AC or heat is on; change HVAC filters once a month; use a smart thermostat; use shades, blinds, and drapes in the summer to block the sun and to insulate in the winter; turn off lights in rooms you are not in; and unplug chargers when they are not in use. Outside, plant trees to shade the sunny side of your home to reduce solar heating. Deciduous trees will block the sun in the summer but allow the sun to warm your house in the winter. For more energy saving tips take a look at this U.S. Department of Energy website:
energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver-guide-tips-saving-money-and-energy-home |
Treat Water Like a Precious Resource
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Good Reads and Good Viewing
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Thomas Rainer and Claudia West “Planting in a Post-Wild World”
Planning guides, plant materials and tips for better maintenance to garden for sustainability and wildlife as we face the challenges of a changing climate and landscape. “Growing a Greener World”, Saturday mornings at 8:00 am on PBS. Host Joe Lampl visits great gardens and landscapes showcasing cutting edge green techniques like commercial rooftop gardens and public gardens reclaiming former industrial spaces. |
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KEEP UP WITH CONSERVATION ISSUES:
Link into GCA Conservation Watch and GCA Conservation Position Papers
Link into GCA Conservation Watch and GCA Conservation Position Papers
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GCA National Affairs and Legislation 2018 Session
Each year Garden Club of America affiliate members from every state in the U.S. come to the Nation’s Capitol for a three day crash course in advocacy on conservation issues, followed by a strategic planning session. The session culminates in private meetings with Senators and Congressmen. This year's featured speakers included former Secretary of Treasury Hank Paulsen, author and entomologist Doug Tallamy, and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. A recurrent theme was the devastating effect of Climate Change on the Economy. Both Paulsen and British International Financier Robert Grantham (called “Advisor to the Crown”) warned of threats to global markets, an impending world-wide water crisis and mass migrations as a result of increasingly severe weather events and droughts. The 3 day event ended with a moving presentation by Audubon Societies’ Scott Weidensaul on migratory birds. |
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