A TOUCH OF NATURE
May 1, 2003 Issue

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DONNA'S COMMENTS
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Aloha!

We've just returned from a trip to Hawaii on Tuesday evening. We had earned the trip in a contest and I wasn't sure what to expect since the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki where we were to stay looked like it was NYC on a beach. It was relaxing with palm trees, waterfalls, and flowers, and a 35th floor view of Diamond Head and the ocean.

I couldn't help but look out over the city from the balcony and think about what the island was like before it turned to "concrete." The hotel itself had its own wildlife with penguins, ibis, flamingoes, turtles and koi ponds.

We took a bus to the center of the island to the mountains to hike through rainforest and bamboo to Manoa Falls. What a hike! On another day we took the bus that circled the island for only $1.50. It was a wonderful way to tour - a nice four hour trip with a lot of coastline views and small towns. I've got rolls of film being developed and I'm hoping I remembered to take people pictures. I have taken week-long trips with no photos of people - only flowers, birds, critters and landscapes. Owning your own business makes it sometimes hard to get away, so we both enjoyed the break from routine.

Enjoying Spring,
Donna

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CRITTER FACTS
************* MAKING A MOUSE HOUSE

The common field mouse was beginning to become extinct. Old tennis balls can make a great house for a mouse. Cut a hole through the center and through the other side the size of the dowel rod you'll use. Cut a small hole on one side of it about the size of a quarter for an entrance. Put the dowel or small rod through the middle and then place the tennis ball with rod out in the field. Makes a great house for a mouse. They'll climb into it like a kid does a tree house.

Anybody that plays tennis is going to have lots of balls to give away. Stop by a tennis court if you don't know anybody and ask somebody if you could stop by again and pick up some old balls.

FRESHWATER AQUATIC COMMUNITIES

Did you know that only 1% of the water on earth is freshwater? Freshwater is water that is not salty and is found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and freshwater marshes. 

Life in freshwater communities is different from the life found in marine [ocean] communities and each type of freshwater community is unique. Learn more.

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THOSE AMAZING BIRDS!
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BIRD FACT: FINCHES

The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs.

ATTRACTING HUMMINGBIRDS

Feeding hummingbirds has long been a popular hobby in the western part of North America, where bird watchers may see as many as eight different species at backyard feeders. Hummer feeding is also catching on in the East, even though only one species, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, is generally seen. If you haven't yet experienced the joys of backyard hummingbirding, here's a few tips to get started:

Select a Feeder - This will provide a sugar solution similar to flower nectar, which is the hummer's principal food. Make sure it is easy to clean and fill. You need to be able to reach all surfaces with a scrub brush and glass is easier to clean than plastic. Choose one with red on it since the color seems to attract them. You can also paint something red with nail polish or paint or attach red ribbons or plastic flowers. It should also be fitted with bee guards [small plastic screens] that keep insects away from the solution to allow the hummers access.

Placing the Feeder - The less sun they get, the longer the solution will stay fresh. Make sure it's protected from wind. You can place it near your window and home. Hummers are bold and will not mind feeding with you only a few feet away.

Filling the Feeder - While you have hot water on to boil, measure out 1/3 cup of sugar. Take a Pyrex glass measuring cup and add 1-1/3 cups of boiling water and then stir in the sugar. It needs to be boiling for the safety of the birds. This is the amount I make at a time so the solution doesn't form mold in the refrigerator. Never use honey because it quickly promotes mold and bacterial growth. DO NOT add red food coloring. It is toxic and unnecessary. They will still feed on flowers, but your feeder will supplement their diet for energy, especially near the time they will migrate south.

Feeder Maintenance - Clean the feeder every three (3) days. It's much easier to clean before the black mold forms and it makes it a healthy feeder for the birds. Use hot water and no soap. Vinegar can be used if necessary.

Bug Invaders - Ants love a free meal and will form a line up and down from your feeder to the ground. To discourage them, simply put Vaseline on the string/wire holding the feeder and make sure the edges aren't touching something the ants can bridge. If bee traffic becomes too heavy, move the feeder. The hummingbirds will find it quickly and the bees won't. Territory- Hummies are very aggressive and territorial, so you will see air battles occur with a male defending "his" feeder. If you want to supply many hummingbirds, you can place several around your home where each will be out of view from the other.

For more information on hummingbirds, I'd recommend, "Stokes Hummingbird Book" by Donald and Lillian Stokes. It describes feeder selection, what plants to add to your garden, and helps you understand their behavior and identify different species.

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GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE- Restoring the Balance
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BEWARE HOGWEED IN THE GARDEN

Gardeners, landscapers, farmers, hikers and others who spend time outdoors should watch out for the giant hogweed, University of Massachusetts researchers report. The weed is native to the Caucasus region of central Asia. Its sap can cause severe skin irritation, blisters and swelling. Contact with the eyes can cause temporary or even permanent blindness.

The giant hogweed was introduced into the United States as an ornamental plant and has spread across the northern half of the nation from Maine to Washington state. "This plant is bad news," researchers said. "It has big seeds and is spread by birds, but the main culprits are gardeners." The plant has become irresistible to gardeners because it can grow 15 feet tall, with leaves 5 feet across at the base and large umbrella-shaped flowers. When established, giant hogweed is difficult to control without chemicals, researchers said. Cutting off flower heads will prevent this season's seeds from forming, but the roots can send up new shoots every year and the roots can spread.

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HEALTH FROM NATURE
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TOXIC PRODUCTS - READ THE LABELS

Learn to recognize how dangerous a toxic product really is. Pay particular attention to the warning word used. The federal government has labeling laws that tell you how dangerous those cleaning products really are. It also acts as a disclaimer for the companies manufacturing them.

POISON/DANGER = very toxic - only a few drops could kill you
WARNING = moderately toxic - as little as a teaspoonful can kill
CAUTION = less toxic - two tablespoons to a cup could kill you
STRONG SENSITIZER = can cause multiple allergies

The Environmental Health Foundation lists the top four chemical groups that we should reject and eliminate. They are:

pesticides
toxic gases (such as chlorine and ammonia)
heavy metals (such as lead and mercury)
volatile organic compounds (such as formaldehyde and solvents)

If we begin to eliminate these chemicals, we can make a difference in our own health and add a little bit of "green" to our own household environment.. This Home Cleaning Kit by MicroBest has products and bottles ready to go for natural alternatives to harsh conventional cleaning products.

If you don't mind mixing your own solutions for various types of cleaning products, like we do, Sunshine Concentrate does a lot of everything in the home. We have replaced all of our chemical products down to the hand soaps at our sinks. Sunshine Concentrate is all we use for laundry also. I add essential oils for antimicrobial properties and feel really good about having these safe cleaning solutions around the house.

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"GREEN" INFO- Making It a Way of Life!
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MAKE EVERY DAY EARTH DAY

This site is a great resource for finding resources for the earth in our area [by zip code]. Find recycling centers, how-to composting info, info for kids and teachers, cell phone/computer recycling, and even local events. Earth Day 911

KENAF FOR PAPER PRODUCTS

Kenaf is a 4,000 year old "new" crop with roots in ancient Africa. A member of the hibiscus family (Hibiscus cannabinus L), it is related to cotton and okra, and grows well in many parts of the U.S. A way to make paper without cutting trees. Read more..

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MUSINGS: POETRY & PROSE
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"Men and nature must work hand in hand.
The throwing out of balance of the resources of nature
throws out of balance also the lives of men."

--Franklin D. Roosevelt

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GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR PLANET
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MORE THAN 100 NEW FROG SPECIES DISCOVERED
by Sherry Morse

Researchers conducting a census of wildlife on the island of Sri Lanka recently discovered members of more than 100 previously unknown frog species.

"The simultaneous discovery of more than 100 species is...astonishing news," Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies professor David Skelly told a National Geographic News reporter. "Sri Lanka is relatively small and relatively well known compared to much of the tropics, (so the discovery) is testimony to how little we know about the distribution of biodiversity."

The members of the species all live within the remaining 466 square miles of a rainforest that covered approximately 9,320 square miles before tea, coffee and rubber plantations were established on Sri Lanka by British settlers during the 1800s.

Most of the newly discovered frogs reproduce through the laying on land of eggs from which small frogs rather than tadpoles hatch. Water pollution has caused local populations of frogs that reproduce through the laying of eggs in ponds to decline significantly.

"No other tropical rainforest region, apart from Australia, is likely to have been as thoroughly surveyed as the Sri Lankan rainforests," said Boston University biologist Christopher J. Schneider. "Therefore, we expect that there is substantial unknown diversity in tropical regions worldwide."

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.

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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.

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