It’s the middle of March and there’s snow on the ground. It seems like getting snow in March is becoming an annual occurrence for us, but the snow is rapidly melting and it isn’t holding back the rapidly approaching spring season. The days are getting longer. More and more birds are calling in the mornings. Tree buds are swelling with the promise of flowers in the not-too-distant future. And our spring ephemeral wildflowers are starting to bloom. Oh! And spring tree top flasher firefly larvae should be out soon. March is always full of so many exciting and interesting things to observe related to native plants, pollinators and wildlife.
March Tasks for Gardening for Pollinators and Wildlife
- If you haven’t cleaned your birdboxes or put up any new ones that you want to put out this season, then get them out as soon as possible. Many of our resident species, like bluebirds, have been checking out potential nesting sites for quite a while now. The sooner you get yours out, the more likely it is to be occupied.
- Walk around your house, garage, and any other structures paying careful attention to the siding, eaves, soffit vents, and attic vents. If there are gaps, openings, or tears in the screens, repair those as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of critters deciding that your home would make a nice place to raise their babies in this spring. Preventive exclusion is the cheapest and most effective manner of dealing with this type of potential human / wildlife conflict.
- Look along your roadside, near moist ditches, and in open areas for clumps of frilly leaves that belong to poison hemlock. This is the best time to kill it and get rid of it. My last Backyard Ecology blog article talks all about how to identify and control poison hemlock.
- This is also a good time of the year to kill any bush honeysuckle that you find growing on your property.
- If you’ve left the flower stalks from last year’s flowers standing this winter, then congratulate yourself. Try to wait at least until the redbuds are blooming before you cut the vegetation back, and then remember to leave approximately 18-24 inches standing for the stem nesting bees to use.
Nursery News
Planting season is going strong for us. The native wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs that we’ve planted over the last month have taken off. We’re trying a new technique with some of them this year and so far, we’re very pleased with it. Anthony’s forest of saplings is also continuing to grow. The last of our first round of seeds will be planted over the next couple of weeks. I’m excited about all the plants we’re going to have available this season.
Our first plant sales will be in April. I have two plant sale and speaking events planned for next month. I’ll have more information about those events in the next newsletter. Next month’s newsletter will also have a list of all the plants we plan to have available this year. Plus, hopefully, another exciting announcement – or maybe two exciting announcements, we’ll have to see how some things play out over the next few weeks.
Upcoming Deliveries
My monthly winter deliveries will continue through April.
My March deliveries will be:
- Glasgow
- Friday, March 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
- Beaver Trail Park parking lot
- Bowling Green
- Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
- Parking lot of the WKU Small Business Development Center (a.k.a. old mall)
This month I will have:
- Honey from my bees in Barren County
- 13 oz glass jar for $15
- Beeswax from my bees in Barren County
- 1 oz block for $3, tax included
- Gift certificates
- You choose the amount.
- No expiration date.
- Good for any of my products or services.
- Plants Honey Bees Use in the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys
- $32 tax included
- Let me know if you want your book signed
How to Order:
If you are interested in ordering anything, please contact me and let me know what you would like. The deadline to send in your orders is noon on Thursday, March 17.
Busy Bee Nursery and Consulting
Helping you create the pollinator and wildlife habitat of your dreams, so you can enjoy your land and care for the plants and animals that also call your property home.