For Those Who Miss Being in the Garden

Last week I just couldn't stand not being in my garden any more. The cold weather here in Central Virginia has made me a shut-in by choice. We've been entertaining ourselves with an interior painting project, but I wanted garden time. So I got my clippers from the garage and went out to cut down the poke weed which was now totally devoid of berries.

Then I cut down the Blue-Black Salvias.  I like to leave things stand through the winter for any seeds that might benefit the birds ... and to provide cover for ground birds from the variety of hawks we have visiting the property

I didn't want to let my husband without the joy of garden time, so I made piles of my trimmings so he could gather them as he does the rest of the year. It was so much fun, I will probably do it again on one of those days when I just can't stay inside any longer.

For all those gardeners who are also getting cabin fever .... here's a video that will make you smile.



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10 Things To Know About Groundhogs

From National Wildlife Federation

The groundhog, also known as the woodchuck or the mouse bear (because it looks like a miniature bear when sitting upright), first won its reputation as a weather prognosticator in 1886, when the editor of western Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper, one Clymer Freas, published a report that local groundhogs had not seen their shadows that day, signaling an early spring.

© 2006 Donna L. Watkins - Groundhog in Charlottesville

This story begat Punxsutawney Phil, the legendary woodchuck weathercreature, which begat Ground Hog Day and the familiar idea that Phil (and his namesake successors down through the years) can predict the perpetuation of winter.

It is likely that the story of Phil is based on European beliefs that badgers and hedgehogs can provide signals about the future; lacking those species in his area, old Clymer substituted the local animal that most resembles a badger or a hedgehog.

But the groundhog is much more than a weather rodent. It’s also a real animal with a real life.  Here are 10 things you may not know about this roly-poly rodent.

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Be a Backyard Scientist-Naturalist

From Beautiful Wildlife Garden

Becoming an ecologist of your yard, your habitat will help you understand better and as a result, provide the best habitat possible for your specific yard. Perhaps just as important or even more so, you will gain knowledge and data that can be useful to others such as neighbors, the city or conservation organizations.

Participate in Citizen Science
You’re not alone, there are dozens of citizen science projects already ongoing throughout North America. Among the many include:

• The Lost Lizard Project of Los Angeles
• The Great Sunflower Project - Join the Hunt for Bees
• The Great Backyard Bird Count - Coming Up in February
• Celebrate Urban Birds - For City Dwellers
• FrogWatch USA
• Witness for Wildlife
• The Lost Ladybug Project
• Firefly Watch
• Wildlife Watch

Participate in them and if you have a local species of concern or interest, start your own project, start local groups, be a local citizen scientist.


Share and Teach
With your expertise, data and experience, share the knowledge with your neighbors, local organizations such as Audubon, parks department, the city or anywhere it can be beneficial. Be confident with your recordings and data to speak at public hearings or to encourage other local homeowners and organizations to participate, especially when discussing a wildlife species on a watch list or threatened status.

With your knowledge you will arm yourself with data to help wildlife not only in your yard, but in your neighborhood, region or in fact the entire world. With many citizen scientists and their data, city planning departments may change that next road placement or have to protect that wetland from a shopping center.

Your data may help a conservation organization or Department of Transportation, plan and design a suitable wildlife crossing for the proper species. In addition, your knowledge and observations will also help to continually improve your own habitat by observing what works and what doesn’t. So go observe, study and record!

This was an excerpt from the entire article at BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com


About the Author:
Kelly Brenner writes The Metropolitan Field Guide, a blog for ideas, thoughts and resources for the design of urban wildlife habitat. She has a landscape architecture degree from the University of Oregon and has studied and watched wildlife from a very young age in the great Pacific Northwest.

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Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent.

Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.

The 2012 GBBC will take place Friday, February 17, through Monday, February 20. Get the details here.

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For more nature and gardening information, visit The Nature In Us.