Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
 4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Subject Topic: About the Birds and the Bees... Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 3:32pm | IP Logged Quote MaryM
Well...a little late for this growing season , but I just ran across an article on the Great Sunflower Project. I sounds really interesting and another living nature study/science project to participate in.
Great Sunflower Project wrote:
We know that pollinators are declining in certain wild and many agricultural landscapes. However, little is known about urban pollinators. Our recent data on bumble bees in an urban setting suggests that urban bees may also be declining (McFrederick & LeBuhn 2006, Fenter and LeBuhn submitted). While the loss of these pollinators is important, it is more important to understand what effect these losses have had on pollinator services.

We do not know much about how healthy bee populations are maintained in an urban environment. Because natural habitats are uncommon in urban landscapes, they may not provide enough resources to support viable pollinator communities. However, if other habitats, such as urban gardens and restored areas, are sufficiently connected to natural habitat, then native populations may thrive.


They will send you sunflower seeds (or you plant your own) and then keep records of bee counts and submit them. Last year Cornell Lab of Ornithology teamed up with The Great Sunflower Project for a The Birds and the Bees Challenge.

The reason finding out about this project struck me, is that we had a lot of sunflowers this year - most grew volunteer from the last year's flowers and some were from the feeders. We also planted some along the side of the house. Anyway, it was a lot of sunflowers, many more than usual for us, and we really noticed the huge numbers of bees that they attracted. So I feel like we did our part to help the bees - now we are going to participate in the counts/reporting for this next year.

The volume of sunflowers has also been a lure for birds - particularly goldfinch. In fact, even though the bees are long gone the birds are still abundant, collecting the last of the seeds from the flower heads.



So I'm encouraging you all to plant sunflowers next year and help the birds and the bees . It's not too early to start planning for next springs' planting.



__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 
Karen T
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 16 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 927
Posted: Oct 19 2009 at 7:58am | IP Logged Quote Karen T
I have been trying for 4 years to get a sunflower house to grow! First, our backyard got too shady once the trees leafed out. We moved 2 yrs ago and I've tried twice here also, where we have much more sun, but the rabbits keep eating them when they are small. I replanted sunflowers 5 times this year!! The last time I started them indoors, set them out at 5 inches tall and put wire cages around them that were a foot high. The rabbits ended up getting them once they topped the cages, and nibbled them down to a foot high. By that time it was almost mid-Aug and i gave up. Sunflowers are my favorite flower and I used to grow them all the time years ago.

karen
Back to Top View Karen T's Profile Search for other posts by Karen T
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com