June 13 , 2013
Cute Overload That Matters: Kids & Wildlife
I ’ve never been afraid of spiders since I read Charlotte ’s connection as a kid .
In fact , I veer around their intricate knit so I do n’t mess it up . egotistically I trust the spiders mess up it up themselves with a few folio - footed bugs after my tomato plant !
I ’m not afraid to plant out - of - control plants , like Zexmenia ( Wedelia texana ) , because they attract so many pollinator and are a larval host for Bordered Patch butterflies . As we guide back into triple digit drought , the wildlife depend on us more than ever .
Even though mine are a shade wacky in the check bottom , I ’m controlling with a light hand , since small birds huddle in the concentration to crunch seeds on bygone prime .
Ditto for coneflower : butterflies , bee , and others savor the nectar . It ’s so tempting to cut them back to straighten up , except when I see finches swaying on the stems to snag the seeds .
Go a little wild with the kids , too ! Master Naturalist andGreat stem blogger Meredith O’ReillyjoinsTom this weekwith well-to-do fun wildlife and out-of-door projects for kids of all ages .
Keep the tike busy all good afternoon turning Milk River jug into dame feeders and houses , while connecting them to the construct of nurturing wildlife .
Meredith shows how to make your own Mason bee house . Or go for a full - service Insect Hotel ! I project to do this one , too . Hey , I said “ shaver ” of all age , did n’t I ?
At Great Stems , her fabulous wildlife find web log , getMeredith ’s detailed teaching for DIY wildlife projectsfor the whole household .
Here ’s one of the projects she land and actually gave me !
Forever , I will cherish the 8 - year - old who made this wildflower seeds card to engraft . I ’ve never meet her , but she ’s alter my life perpetually . I ’m not constitute it — I’m cast it !
Another “ Aww ” picture comes fromDebra Shaw as Viewer Pic of the Week .
When a Carolina wren made her nest in the front door wreath , the Shaws were most careful about waking the babies . Now that the “ kids ” are perish , Debra ’s going through empty nest syndrome . credibly not for long , since the Wren category likes the Shaw ’s “ insurance ” reporting .
More prettiness fromCTG ’s friend Matt Jackson , getting some help this spring with his own small “ nestlings . ” Matt ’s a “ techie ” who gives me lots of advice , but he and his married woman also require their kids to be connected to the offline Earth in their ever - growing garden .
Here ’s something fun the child can sight on the underside of ferns : spore .
Thanks toHeidi Schaubfor Daphne ’s doubt this workweek . Get her answer on what those spores are doing .
Kids also get a gripe out of growing their own constituent vegetable and popping them correctly into their mouths ! If you ’ve have extra , Trisha shows how to immobilise and dry foodand herbs for levelheaded meal ( or encampment trips ) all year long . Here ’s a connectedness to her tips .
On tour , arts supporter Helen Roberts wanted a garden of discovery for minor and local artists . Touch type O ’ Green Landscapes designerBridget Lanewrangled overpowering invasives to paint just the right picture .
Thanks for stopping by ! Until next workweek , translate Charlotte ’s Web again !
Linda
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