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A TOUCH OF NATURE
April 1, 2003 Issue
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This newsletter is sponsored by The Herbs Place.com. *******************************************

SEARCH previous issues and MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION

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DONNA'S COMMENTS
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A short while back I received some very exciting news. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is going to be using a couple of my photographs on a computer CD it is creating. Randal and I both volunteer for TNC and I had exchanged photographs with the Volunteer Coordinator in Charlottesville. He is working on the CD project. What a thrill for me! One of them is of orchids and the other is of an eagle that I took in Alaska at a wildlife rehab center. With 3200 subscribers, somebody is going to ask to see them, so I've put them on the website if you'd like to look.

Spring is definitely here in Virginia! The daffodils are swaying and the hyacinth's scent reaches to the heavens [well... it seems like it to us].

Hyacinths take me back to my childhood in Pennsylvania when I would get a dollar from my Daddy to walk to the greenhouse and get my Mother a hyacinth for Mother's Day. Forsythia is brilliant along the country roads and the redbuds and cherry blossoms are turning things pink. Spring is so alive! I'm headed to the land today with three friends. It's a Girl Day! We're packing lunch and we're going to eat in the dining area of the house. Can't wait to see what kinds of wildflowers we can find. Wish you could join us there! :-)

Happy Springtime!
Donna

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CRITTER FACTS
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FROGWATCH USA

Help protect native frogs and toads.

In recent years, scientists have noticed a disturbing trend among frog and toad populations. Throughout the world, amphibians are disappearing at an alarming rate. Because frogs have porous skin, they are especially sensitive to changes in their environment. They are among the first to suffer the consequences of human-caused threats, such as pollution, non-native species introduction, impacts from agricultural and development projects and increased ultraviolet radiation.

As an indicator of greater ecosystem health, amphibian population decline raises many concerns about the long-term health of our environment.

HOW AND WHY ANIMALS MIGRATE
Animals migrate for a variety of reasons. Migration is a behavioral adaptation that helps animals survive.  Read more.

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THOSE AMAZING BIRDS!
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BIRDING ONLINE

Track the birds you see and contribute sightings to a continent-wide database for research. Visit here to find out more.

BIRD FACT: Hummingbird Color Preferences

Hummingbirds prefer the color red in flowers [such as cardinal flower, which is lobelia cardinalis]. White is second only to red. Then violet, orange, blue, yellow and green. Now you know what to plant to attract this fascinating little birds.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD

Research shows this little hummer remembers flower color, location, and\ nectar quality as it forages. After draining a flower of nectar, it uses\ these cues to avoid visiting the empty flower on subsequent visits.

A recent study shows that Rufous Hummingbirds can distinguish among at least three different categories of flowers: those emptied on a previous visit those seen on a previous visit those that have newly appeared

The study shows that the hummers also remember flower height, a useful cue when foraging in three dimensions.

Source: Henderson, J., T.A. Hurly, and S.D. Healy
Animal Behavior 61:981-986

WHEN TO PUT THE FEEDERS OUT

Don't know where you are, but in Virginia, tax due day is when we get ours out. April 15th. You'll begin to see them migrating through and if you've had any previous residents, they're sure to return to "their spot." If you hang more than one feeder, be sure they are not in view of each other since each male will defend any feeder it can see. We've always placed one in front of the house and in the rear. The house is a good barrier of territories. Keep them in the shade if you can since the syrup can spoil quickly. Remember to change syrup every five days if in the shade. There's no advantage to a large hummingbird feeder since it's rare to find more than one bird feeding at a time and the syrup needs to be changed frequently. The main thing to look for is something easy to clean!

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GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE- Restoring the Balance
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THYME - A GRASS LAWN ALTERNATIVE

A grass lawn is a great deal of work with regular time consuming mowing.

One alternative is a thyme lawn. It takes time to establish, but holds up to traffic well. Use a mixture of very low creeping thymes, both white and purple, and allow some slightly taller patches of mother of thyme to grow for contrast. The lawn will flower from June to September and will always be a joy for sitting or lying relaxed from the thyme scent rising with every movement. A thyme lawn needs full sun so it is not suitable for every situation. Here's an article on planting and maintaining a thyme lawn - DEAD LINK REMOVED.

WEED WORDS: MORE THAN SEMANTICS

What's the difference between an invasive, an exotic, and an invasive exotic? A few definitions might help.

Native: any species which was present at a given site prior to European contact.

Exotic: a species which does not meet this definition of native; also called non-native or alien.

Invasive: a species which is able to proliferate and aggressively alter or displace indigenous biological communities.

Are all exotic plants invasive? Not necessarily. Crops like corn and oats, and shrubs like Korean spice viburnum are examples of well-behaved exotic plants. Can a native plant also be invasive? You better believe it!

Greenbriar, also known as Smilax, is actually native to Pennsylvania, but changes in the natural fire and grazing regimes have allowed it to become invasive. That which we call a weed by any other name would still be invasive. Learn more.

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HEALTH FROM NATURE
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PROTECTION FROM VIRUSES AND BACTERIA

Essential oils are frequently referred to as the "life force" of plants. Unlike fatty oils, these "essential" oils are volatile, highly concentrated, substances extracted from flowers, leaves, stems, roots, seeds, bark, resin or fruit rinds.

With the continual bombardment of viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal contamination in our world, essential oils are a great benefit to help protect our bodies and homes from this onslaught of pathogens. Immune systems need support and essential oils can give it.

Read more about the amazing properties of essential oils from plants and buy at wholesale discounted prices.

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"GREEN" INFO- Making It a Way of Life!
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ALTERNATE FUEL VEHICLES

Automobiles create more than 40% of all carbon dioxide in the U.S. and contribute to the problem of global warming. Learn more about other options on the up and coming list.

GREEN MAPS

The Green Map System is a globally connected, locally adaptable framework for community sustainability. Green Maps extend that power by providing engaging ways to showcase the resources that beneficially impact our quality of life.

Many Green Maps are a complete inventory of the area's environmental status, and take on an essential role in defining relevant new views of the city while directly connecting us to sustainable choices. Green Maps utilize icons to chart the sites of environmental significance in urban places around the world. Each is created locally in a unique way, and the map makers are of all ages and backgrounds.

View in English, Deutsche and Espanol.

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MUSINGS: POETRY & PROSE

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"Far away in the sunshine
are my highest aspirations.
I may not reach them,
but I can look up and see the beauty,
believe in them
and try to follow where they lead."

- Louisa May Alcott

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GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR PLANET
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WALT DISNEY WORLD DISCONTINUING USE OF PIGEONS
by Sherry Morse

Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL recently announced that it will no longer release pigeons during live shows at the Magic Kingdom. The practice, which had gone on for more than 30 years, is being ended because the birds were falling prey to red-tailed hawks that live in the area, according to a Walt Disney World spokesperson.

Red-tailed hawks, which generally can be found living in grasslands or marshy areas such as those in Florida, usually eat small rodents, but will also prey upon small birds. The staff members of Walt Disney World responsible for the amusement park's pigeons were until recently unaware of the killings.

The decision to stop the releases was made only after several methods of scaring off the hawks proved to be unsuccessful. There are approximately 200 pigeons remaining at Walt Disney World. Homes for them are currently being sought.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.

This was a February article, but there may still be homes needed for some pigeons. I couldn't help but wonder if Mickey is okay since they said red hawks generally prey on small rodents. :-)

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DISCLAIMER:
The content, suggestions, and web links in this newsletter are for informational purposes only and not necessarily endorsed by our sponsor "The Herbs Place.com" This is a personal publication by Donna Watkins. The ideas and information expressed in it have not been approved or authorized by anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall Donna Watkins or "The Herbs Place.com" be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or defamation.