Go wild with your gardens!

I share lessons from a Georgia "Go Wild with your Gardening" symposium on how to increase wildlife species diversity in your neighborhood.

Feb 01, 2024

Georgia Master Naturalist Jacqueline McRae of the Chattahoochee Nature Center gave opening remarks to kick off the symposium.

This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the “Go Wild with Your Gardening” symposium at the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC). If you live in Georgia, the CNC is a must-see spot for learning more about the wildlife and ecosystems of the Southeastern USA.

They had an incredible lineup of speakers at the event, including conservationist Jennifer Ceska, artist and author Laura Martin, and the New York Times best-selling author of Nature’s Best Hope, Prof. Doug Tallamy, among others. In today’s newsletter, I share my notes on some of the main lessons offered by three of these leaders in conservation. You can read their full bios and a description of the talk topics at the CNC event page.

While this symposium and my notes include resource links specific to the Georgia, there are certainly many lessons applicable to gardeners no matter where you live in the world!

"Plant Conservation in Georgia, and Our Dire Need to Engage Hearts and Minds" with Jennifer Ceska

Jennifer Ceska is a conservation botanist at the State Botanic Garden of Georgia.

Grassland restoration is achievable. We can use old maps, such as those from Bartram's travels in GA, SC, and AL between 1773-1777, to identify original sites of grasslands. More information is available from the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative. Currently, native wildflowers are primarily confined to powerline rights of way and roadsides. Powerline prairies can provide a refuge for these plant species and support wildlife, including insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals.
You can make a difference in your own gardens. Refrain from planting tropical milkweeds and utilize resources from the Georgia Native Plant Initiative to select native species. They also offer a comprehensive list of certified Native Plant Nurseries where you can order your plants.
The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance is dedicated to saving native plants. An example is Echinacea laevigata (smooth coneflower), an endangered plant found in northeast GA, SC, and NC. Most populations, being sun-loving, are located on roadsides in U.S. forest federal land. This plant is struggling due to habitat loss. It needs grasslands! Conservation horticulturist Heather Alley has been actively working to document and conserve this species. Efforts include cutting down trees to open up habitat, restoring grasslands for this and other species, and replanting endangered and threatened wildflower species. This initiative has been successful, with the smooth echinacea and other threatened wildflowers thriving in their restored habitat.

Echinacea laevigata (Smooth Purple Coneflower, Sometimes misspelled as "Smooth Purple Cone Flower") | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the smooth coneflower is “threatened by fire suppression and habitat destruction resulting from highway construction, residential and commercial development, as well as maintenance activities in roadside and utility rights of way.” Source.

We need to normalize native landscapes. Starting points include:
- Planting a mailbox garden or potted garden.
- Planting butterfly weed.
- Planting any Georgia Pycnanthemum – mountain mint.
- Visiting the Georgia Native Plant Initiative for resources on nurseries, species to plant, and the 'Milkweed for Monarchs' brochure.
- Support the 2024 Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year Program and plant species like Robin’s Fleabane, Spotted Horsemint, White Wood Aster, and American Witchhazel.

"Imperiled Beauty: Georgia’s Endangered Plants" with Laura Martin

Laura Martin is a botanist, artist, and the author of 26 books.

undefined — Kudzu is an invasive plant that has proven very difficult to control. Read more about how kudzu was introduced from Asia to the US in this article by the Georgia Extension service. Image source: By Scott Ehardt - Own work, Public Domain.

Georgia is home to 19 different plants on the federal endangered plant list. The reasons for their endangerment and potential solutions are critical topics.
The primary cause of plant endangerment is habitat loss. Heavily developed areas—wetlands, mountain tops, beaches—are chosen for their natural beauty, which ironically threatens the very essence of this beautiful state of nature.
The longleaf pine ecosystem, once spanning over two-thirds of the Southeastern USA, is a highly complex ecosystem. A robust longleaf pine ecosystem can support 900 plant species, 100 bird species, and 170 reptile and amphibian species. It's crucial for the survival of many endangered species. Protecting this ecosystem is vital, with fire management being the most effective tool. Contrary to fire suppression, which leads to loss of plant species, controlled burns are necessary for maintaining ecological balance, supporting grasslands and wildflowers.
Invasive plants pose a significant threat to native plants. Kudzu, for example, was actively planted in the past and now covers thousands of acres in the Southeastern USA. Other invasive species like English ivy and privet also exacerbate the problem by outcompeting native plant diversity.
To support conservation efforts in your own backyard, refrain from excessive mowing and spraying. Creating a balanced ecosystem environment is beneficial. Many plants thrive in the open, sunny areas along roadsides. Delaying mowing until after plants have seeded can significantly aid in preserving numerous species.

"Nature’s Best Hope" with Doug Tallamy

Doug Tallamy is a Professor of Entomology at the University of Delaware and a best-selling author.

According to E.O. Wilson's book "Half-Earth: Our Planet's Fight for Life," to save life on Earth, we must dedicate half of the planet to nature. However, with half of terrestrial earth already utilized for agriculture and the other half occupied by 8 billion people, there is no 'third half' to give away.
Teddy Roosevelt famously said, “Leave it as it is,” regarding the formation of national parks and in response to mining plans for the Grand Canyon. However, we have not left it as is. We've mined, clear-cut, paved, and tilled the soil, leaving only a tiny fraction of natural areas.
Nature is essential for our survival on this planet. In 2018, it was reported that the insect apocalypse is here, with North America losing 3 billion breeding birds as a result. The UN predicts the loss of 1 million species over the next 20 years.
We can all contribute to reducing the risk of loss. E.O. Wilson explained the consequences of insect loss in his paper "The Little Things That Run the World." If insects disappear, many flowering plants and the food webs supporting vertebrates will follow. The biosphere would decay due to the loss of insects that promote decomposition.
Humans depend on ecosystem services from plants, such as producing oxygen, cleaning and slowing water travel to the sea, capturing carbon, building topsoil, preventing floods, dampening severe weather, converting sunlight into food, and providing food.
Aldo Leopold stated, "The oldest task in human history is to live on a piece of land without spoiling it." Indigenous peoples have achieved this, but Western society has not.
We need a land ethic about where we live. Coexisting with nature is not just an option; it is the only viable option left.
Conservation must be brought to where people are, focusing on private property, which makes up 78% of the lower 48 states. We should renew all parts of nature, starting with the most important species, to rebuild ecosystem functions.

Caterpillars transfer a high amount of energy from plants into the food web. Baby birds rely on caterpillars, not seeds from bird feeders, for nourishment. Birds get their carotenoids from caterpillars eating plants. To rear a clutch of Carolina chickadees, 6000-9000 caterpillars are needed! Therefore, landscaping should support caterpillars.
Landscapes should be both aesthetically pleasing and ecologically functional. Not all plants support caterpillars, so it's essential to choose species that do.
There are specialized relationships between insects and host plants, with insects creating enzymes to break down specific plant defense molecules.
Oaks are excellent for supporting local food webs. Non-contributors to food webs like ginkgo trees and detractors like Bradford pears, which reduce opportunities for food web contributors, should be avoided.
To attract new insects to his garden, Tallamy selected plants on his 10 acres of former farmland that hosted different specialist caterpillars, such as Virginia creeper for sphinx moths.
Planting oaks can quickly support the local food web. On his 10-acre land, Tallamy has increased the number of insect and bird species. This approach works even on smaller lots, especially with added water features.

Lawns, covering 40 million acres nationwide, are dead space. Reducing lawn areas by half could create a "homegrown national park," restoring 20 million acres.

Keystone plants are essential, with just 14% of native plants making 90% of caterpillar food for the food web. Oaks support 950 caterpillar species nationwide. You can visit the Native Plant Finder website to determine which native species to plant in your garden based on zip code.
Developing a unique relationship with nature and addressing nature deficit disorder in children is crucial. Encourage children to explore nature independently and teach them to be stewards of the planet. Joining the Homegrown National Park and registering property is a step toward this goal.

Simple action items

Some other simple tasks can make a big difference in promoting species diversity in your garden:

To protect insects, we need to reduce light pollution. Consider:
- Reducing our lighting usage.
- Installing motion sensors.
- Replacing white light bulbs in security lights with yellow bulbs, which are less attractive to night insects.
- By reducing light pollution, we can save insects, money, and energy.
Pyrethrins, derived from chrysanthemums, are natural but can kill many insects. Mosquito fogging adversely affects insect diversity and is ineffective against adult mosquitoes. A more effective approach is:
- Targeting mosquitoes in the larval stage.
- Placing a bucket of water with straw in sunlight to attract egg-laying mosquitoes.
- Using mosquito dunks in the bucket to kill larvae, which is targeted and cost-effective.
Landscapes should support the complete development of caterpillars. Considerations include:
- Some species can complete their life cycle on a single tree.
- Most species (94%) need both the tree and leaf litter beneath it for their life cycle.
- Mowing and compacting the ground hinder this crucial stage of development.
- Creating a layered landscape with soft landing and multiple species ensures higher insect survivorship.
Enhance your trees with large beds and native groundcover to expand the native landscape.
Increasing native plants allows ecosystems to better tolerate existing non-natives. To formalize gardens:
- Consider fencing off a section for native wildflowers.
- In Minnesota, there's a cost-sharing program for replacing lawns with native flowering plants.

Lessons learned

Early conservation efforts made significant mistakes by:

Viewing nature as optional, when it is actually crucial for survival.
Focusing on saving wildlife for future generations, rather than preserving nature to ensure those generations.
Assuming humans and nature cannot coexist.
Believing that only a few experts can manage earth stewardship.

Instead, today it is important that we:

Realize that all places, including urban yards, have ecological significance.
Recognize that everyone is responsible for healthy ecosystems and can contribute, whether as a property owner or a volunteer with conservation organizations.

Challenge for the year: Plant one keystone plant to support your local ecosystem.

The Takeaway

I learned about many great resources and tips on how to contribute to biodiversity by following simple steps in my own backyard and collaborating with neighborhood organizations. I'm excited to register my property and join the Homegrown National Park. I hope you also find these notes and tips useful!

Remember, to support human health, we must support the health of our planet! Our planet depends on a complex web of diverse species, and so do we.

Yours in health, Dr. Quave