In addition to pollinators, the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat is also visited by birds, deer, raccoons, rabbits, and more. Learn how you can recycle your Christmas tree to benefit wildlife in your own backyard.
Author Archives: Soni Cochran
Fields of White & Gold — GRO Big Red
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” A.A. Milne Who doesn’t love dandelions? They are the most well recognized flower anywhere you go. 473 more words
“…Early spring pollinators need a balanced diet much like people. Too much sugar and not enough protein will not provide the queens with essential elements for healthy progeny. White clover does produce nectar but not in the same quantity as dandelions. However, unlike dandelions, the protein content of white clover pollen is high and contains all the essential nutrients needed for pollinator health…”
“…Dandelions and white clover together make for a happy and healthy diet options for pollinators. However, they do not make for a happy homeowner. The last 50 years we have become obsessed with a thick, lush, weed-free lawn. We spray, pull, and weed-out anything that is not turf grass from the lawn. This leaves very little options for our insect friends….”
Learn more. Read Fields of White & Gold — GRO Big Red from our Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy colleagues.
Here’s to sharing the Buzz!
Soni
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Pollinator Talks & Tours – August 3 in Lincoln, Nebraska
The Pollinator Talks & Tours on August 3 is a terrific opportunity to learn more about pollinators, plants and take a tour of pollinator habitats. The tours will be led by staff from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Entomology, Backyard Farmer, Nebraska By Heart, Nebraska Forest Service and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
All events (with the exception of the 2 p.m. tour) begin from the Backyard Farmer (BYF) gardens east of UNL Keim Hall, 1825 N. 38th St in Lincoln, Nebraska.
At the BYF garden, FREE herbal tea will be available and for kids—pollinator activities, face-painting and make-your-own antennae.
Schedule of Events:
- 9 a.m. Tour of “Nebraska by Heart” installations on UNL east campus
- 10 and 11 a.m. Tours of the BYF garden and Maxwell, with a focus on plants for pollinators
- 12 p.m. Brown-bag on monarchs by Shauna Groenewold, Citizen Scientist & Monarch Enthusiast
- 2 p.m. Tour of Union Plaza pollinator plants starting from 2228 N. 21 St.
This event is sponsored by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, arboretum@unl.edu, 402-472-2971.
Event Links:
- UNL calendar
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/396550480746374??ti=ia
- Parking: Pink areas on this map http://maps.unl.edu/east/ show visitor meters near the BYF garden, located between Fair, Center and N. 39th Streets. NOTE: some pink areas are reserved for dental patients and Dairy Store only.
Looking for more family fun on August 3?
Enjoy the Pollinator Tours and Talks and then head over to the first official day of the Lancaster County Super Fair in Lincoln! Details at http://superfair.org
Here’s to Sharing the Buzz!
Soni
Nebraska Extension provides research-based information to help you make informed decisions any time, any place, anywhere – http://lancaster.unl.edu
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from all of us here at Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County!
Today, we recycled the fall decorations from our office by placing them into the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat. It will be fun to watch the wildlife on the live camera as they check out the pumpkins, squash and cornstalks. You can watch at http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/bees.shtml
While working around the insect hotel, I noticed an opossum has been raiding the black oil sunflower seeds, chewing the seeds up and then regurgitating almond-sized pellets or “nuggets”. People sometimes notice these same pellets around bird feeders and aren’t sure what they are! Now, you know!
To learn how to create your own pollinator-friendly habitat, visit http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/bees.shtml.
Here’s to Sharing the Buzz!
Soni
Nebraska Extension provides research-based information to help you make informed decisions any time, any place, anywhere – http://lancaster.unl.edu
“For the golden corn
and the apples on the tree,
For the golden butter
and honey for our tea;
For fruits and nuts and
berries, that grow
beside the way
For birds and bees and
flowers, we give thanks
every day”
–author unknown
Where have the butterflies gone?
Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar in parsley. Photo by Jody Green, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County.
As I drove home yesterday, a monarch butterfly flew very near my truck! I was relieved to have missed it (or it missed me!) Unlike other years, I just haven’t encountered a lot of butterflies in my pollinator garden at home or on the road.
Are you seeing butterflies and moths? Are you also wondering where the butterflies have gone? I’ve gotten several calls from people who grow host plants in their landscapes specifically for butterflies. Some call me every year to report what they are seeing. But, like my own garden, people are reporting very few butterflies or caterpillars. Continue reading
Picky eaters: Bumble bees prefer plants with nutrient-rich pollen
Bumblebee on a common milkweed in the Cherry Creek Pollinator habitat
This is an excerpt from on-line Science Daily June 27, 2016:
Bumble bees have discriminating palettes when it comes to their pollen meals, according to researchers at Penn State. The researchers found that bumble bees can detect the nutritional quality of pollen, and that this ability helps them selectively forage among plant species to optimize their diets.
According to Anthony Vaudo, a graduate student in entomology who led the study, scientists previously believed that bees’ preferences for flowering plants were driven by floral traits, such as color, scent, morphology or nectar concentration.
“Here we show that bumble bees actually choose a plant for the nutritional quality of its pollen,” said Vaudo. “This is important because pollen is bees’ primary source of protein and lipids.”
Read more about this Penn State University study in the on-line Science Daily June 27, 2016
Here’s to Sharing the Buzz!
Soni
Nebraska Extension provides research-based information to help you make informed decisions any time, any place, anywhere – http://lancaster.unl.edu
Getting to Know Leafcutter Bees
Thanks to our colleague Dr. Jonathan L. Larson for providing this information. Dr. Larson is an Extension Educator in Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties
QUICK FACTS
- Leafcutter bees are important pollinators that are members of the family Megachilidae. They tend to be stout-bodied, dark in color, and have pollen collecting hairs on their “belly”
- They visit many crops including alfalfa, blueberries, cherries, almonds, onions, carrots and dozens of different wildflowers
- Leafcutter bees pose little sting hazard in comparison to the honey bee or even Beedrill and even though they can cosmetically damage some plants it is best not to use insecticides against them
The August 2016 Issue of the NEBLINE is on-line!
The August NEBLINE Newsletter is now online. This is a free resource from our office and this month you’ll find information on making the recycled bee nesting tubes and creating healthy habitats for beneficial insects. Enjoy and Here’s to Sharing the “Buzz” – Soni
She’s a Killer, a Cicada Killer
You may see one of these amazing wasp on one of the flowering plants in your garden. Learn more about Nebraska’s largest wasp.
The Buzz at Cherry Creek 