Gardening for Pollinators and Wildlife – Feb. 3, 2023

Table of Contents

• Shannon’s Note
• Nursery Update
• Upcoming Deliveries
  • Available Items
  • Pre-order logistics
• February Tasks When Gardening for Pollinators and Wildlife
• Relevant Backyard Ecology Resources
  • Planning & Management
  • Species Profiles & Observing Nature
• Subscribe to Newsletter

Shannon’s Note

Punxsutawney Phil may be predicting 6 more weeks of winter, but that doesn’t mean Mother Nature is listening. All the winter annuals and many of the cool season grasses in our yard are bright green. I’ve also already seen my first dandelion flower and winter cress flowers of the year in our yard. Our daffodils are getting close to blooming, but aren’t quite there yet; however, I know other people in my general area who have blooming daffodils. Spring is definitely on its way, although that doesn’t mean Mother Nature won’t throw us a curve ball or two before now and then. I’ve lived in Kentucky long enough to expect it.

For many of us, myself included, dreaming of spring also means dreaming of new plants to add to our gardens. And, of course, part of that dreaming includes pouring over catalogues and websites to look for those plants or seeds. It is becoming increasingly common for companies and big box stores to offer “wildflower” seeds or plants, and I know many people who have bought those seed mixes thinking that they were buying native plants. However, that’s usually not the case. One of the resources I list below is a blog article that I wrote recently which talks about the difference between wildflowers and native plants. Feel free to pass it along if you know someone who might find it helpful.

In the “Tasks” part of this newsletter, you’ll also find the usual statement about killing invasive species. However, I wanted to point out that in my opinion February and early to mid-March is the best time to kill poison hemlock in our area. The “Resources” section has links to a blog and two videos talking about how to identify and control poison hemlock.

Back to top

Nursery Update

February is when things really start to ramp up in the nursery. We have all the cold weather treatments going on the seeds that need a winter treatment in order to germinate. It also won’t be too much longer before we start planting.

Outside, some of the hardier plants that we overwintered are already starting to put out small basal rosettes of vegetation. They won’t really get going or grow very big for another month or two – there’s still too much of a chance for winter craziness. But, they are taking advantage of the warm days and sun when they can get it and I know those roots are growing and getting stronger.

The buds are also starting to swell on some of our overwintered shrubs. In fact, if things continue to go like they are, then we may have some shrub available for the March deliveries.

Speaking of shrubs, Anthony is doing a whole series of videos on trees and shrubs that are good for pollinators and wildlife and that work well in the home landscape as well as larger plantings. We won’t have all of these species available for sale, but we want to serve you the best we can. And sometimes the best way we can serve you is by sharing information about species that may work well for your landscape and pollinator and wildlife goals even if we don’t have those species for sale.

Back to top

Upcoming Deliveries

Winter deliveries will continue once a month until April. Next weekend (Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11) will be the next delivery. Honey, books, and gift cards for native plants and consulting services are all available.

• February 10: Glasgow
  • 4:00 p.m., Weldon Park parking lot

• February 11: Bowling Green
  • 10:00 a.m., parking lot of the WKU Small Business Development Center (a.k.a. old mall)

Back to top

Available Items:

Books, Gift Certificates, and Honey

Back to top

Pre-Order Logistics and What to Expect

• E-mail the following information to shannon@busybeenurseryandconsulting.com
  • List of items, sizes, and quantities that you want to order.
• Ordering deadline: noon on Thursday, Feb. 9.
  • Orders are filled in the order that I receive them.
  • I will make sure I have everything you want and send you the total for the order.
• On the day of the delivery:
  • I will have your order ready to go when you arrive.
  • You can pay by cash, check, or card.

Back to top

February Tasks When Gardening for Pollinators and Wildlife

• Make sure any birdhouses you have up have been cleaned out and are in good working order.
• If you are planning to put up any new birdhouses this year, then now is the time to get them up.
  • The birds won’t start nesting in them yet, but they will be checking out and evaluating different options.
• 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 this spring.
  • Preventive exclusion is the cheapest and most effective manner of dealing with this type of potential human / wildlife conflict.
• Provide a winter treatment for any seeds that you are planning to plant which require a cold, moist period in order to break dormancy.
  • If you plan to let Mother Nature provide the winter treatment, get them outside now in order to ensure they have enough cold days.
  • If you are planning to do an artificial cold, moist stratification, then you need to get most species started by the end of the month if you want to plant in the spring.
• If you need to cut down some trees, winter is the best time to do it from a wildlife and pollinator perspective.
• Resist the urge on the warm days to “clean up” your garden.
  • All the little insects and critters are still asleep in that vegetation.
• Now is a great time to identify and possibly treat invasive species on your property, especially poison hemlock.
  • If you are using herbicides, be sure to read and follow the label.
• Keep an eye out for all the early signs of spring that will begin popping up this month.

Back to top

Relevant Backyard Ecology Resources

Planning & Management

Should you mow your meadow or pollinator planting?

Wildflower vs Native Plant: What’s the Difference?

Best Times to Kill Poison Hemlock: Winter and Early Spring

If You Need to Cut Down a Tree, Do It in the Winter

Leave Standing Dead Trees (When Safe)

Clean and Repair Birdhouses

Don’t Bring Hummingbirds Inside to Warm Up

Provide Suet for Winter Birds

Back to top

Species Profiles & Observing Nature

Downy Woodpecker: Our smallest woodpecker and a common backyard visitor

White Wingstem: A Late Fall Nectar Source and Frost Flower Producer

Red Maple: An Early Source of Nectar and Pollen

The Striped Skunk: A Common Visitor to Backyards

The Goldenrod Gall Fly: An Insect with a Fascinating Life History and Valuable Role in the Ecosystem

Liking lichens: A Glimpse into the Fascinating World of Lichens

Yellow-bellied sapsucker – The only migratory woodpecker in the Eastern U.S.

Cranefly Orchid: A cryptic native orchid

Back to top

Subscribe to the Busy Bee Nursery and Consulting email list to have these newsletters emailed to you.

Back to top