Did you know that there are dangerous and toxic invaders all over Delmar? Yes, they can be toxic if touched, they destroy and prevent our beautiful wildflowers from growing by putting down toxic ingredients into the soil, and they are hopeless bullies and will take over everyplace they touch down. By displacing native plants, the thousands of beneficial insects which help feed the birds and maintain natural balance, will disappear.
Has anyone else noticed the small or largely absent populations of songbirds here in our own little neighborhood? Birds like wrens, different (native) sparrows, cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, titmice, hummingbirds and even blue jays, let alone more unusual species. They should be all over! Finding a Monarch or Swallowtail butterfly is pretty much impossible. If all these are missing or nearly so, it indicates we do not have a healthy environment for our watershed, as well as our lake. Even your own well water. Native plants not only filter pollutants, toxins and delay their entering the water/watershed cycle, they provide habitat for all our pollinators and birds.
Lawns contribute little more to the environment than green and weeds, until turning brown in times of drought. Robins may be able to find a worm here and there, but unless you leave your clippings in place, even the worms are hard up to make a living. Try digging up a shovelful of dirt someplace in your yard. If there are less than a dozen or more worms, there is no biologic activity (i.e. healthy soil).
Is it time to perhaps liven up our yards, create better habitat, do what we can to contribute to a healthy watershed and our lake, as well as help create a healthier, more beautiful environment? We can talk further about steps we can take now to not only help create a better place for birds and butterflies to live (and ourselves), but to make our homes much more attractive and inviting (including resale value)and make Delmar “BLOOM,” instead of contributing to the algae bloom. Feel free to email me at ecowings08@gmail.com for more information. I have many resource materials, pamphlets to share, and interest in helping us make that happen. It isn’t necessary to spend a thousand hours, as I have- I am trying to create an oasis of growing fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries for organic produce and a demonstration garden; my name for this type of gardening is “environmental gardening.” It is already a certified wildlife and Monarch habitat. Tours on request! 2013 will only be the 2nd or 3rd summer and despite the 2012 drought, I expect that things will look pretty spectacular, and I will be adding some gorgeous berry bushes. I will also help anyone design their own starting plot, and will be growing and ordering plants for wildlife, especially Monarchs, who may actually become extinct in our lifetime!
In the meantime, as Spring appears (soon enough), you can help your lawn by spreading sand, Milorganite and gypsum, all organic and helpful for creating a healthy and beautiful lawn. In the fall a pass with some lime will help prepare it for the following year in most cases. Please don’t put poisons, which are toxic to everything living, into your soil. Healthy lawns will repel not only weeds, but other problems. And leave your grass clippings to naturally decay and feed the earthworms, the easiest way to begin. One season of grass clippings is the equivalent of one fertilizer application. While putting down synthetic fertilizers is a quick fix for greening up, it depletes the soil and creates an artificial green which requires more and more synthetic food to keep looking good.
Please give me a call and let’s see if some Delmar residents can help bring about a healthier environment for everyone.
Stay tuned!
Kadi Reynolds
N/E corner of Sutter Ave and King St
