Plant of the Week July 3, 2023

 Hydrangeas for Pollinators

Hydrangea trials at Mt. Cuba Center

Hydrangeas have become our most popular shrub in recent years. Their flowers are undeniably their primary draw, especially the large mophead blue and pink varieties. But for pollinators, go beyond the mophead varieties to the lacecap types, notably Hydrangea arborescens. Sam Hoadley, of Mt. Cuba Center, invited a group of  'Ladies in the Landscape' to view the trials that were being held to determine which of the hydrangea cultivars were among the best to draw pollinators. It was an eye-popping experience to see the scores of bees and other insects visiting the flowers. 

See the bumblebees?

Hydrangea arborescens bloom on new wood in June and July. They can be pruned from fall through winter and still provide an incredible show every summer. A cold winter may appear to kill them to the ground, but they reemerge, blooming right on time. Hydrangeas do better with some shade, especially in the afternoon.

Fertile flowers by larger sterile ones

 The lacecap heads contain hundreds of fertile flowers ringed by larger sterile ones. Flower heads remain through fall and winter providing interest in the garden. Flowers are mostly white; some cultivars feature pink or lime green as well. It was amazing to see the lacecap flower heads so full of pollinators while the larger mophead types drew so few. A volunteer group from Pollinator Watch, a trained group of volunteers, observed and recorded the number of pollinators that visited each of the varieties in the study. 'Haas Halo' was the top performer as both a plant that grew well and strong and one that had many of the pollinators visit its flowers. 

Stop in this week to see the amazing hydrangeas at work providing for our pollinators.

Top performer!

Visit mtcubacenter.org/trial for more information on this trial and the many others held at Mt Cuba Center

From the website: 

Mt. Cuba’s Hydrangea arborescens Top Performers:

1. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Haas’ Halo’
2. Hydrangea arborescens ‘SMNHALR’ (Lime Rickey®)
3. Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA2’ (Invincibelle® Spirit II)
4. Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA4’ (Incrediball® Blush)
5. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’ (Incrediball®)
6. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Bounty’
7. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Dardom’ (White Dome®)
8. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Total Eclipse’
9. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Mary Nell’

Pollinators: Let's Learn More

Pollinating insects have been the talk of the gardening town lately. All sorts of statistics are available to support the statement that about a third of what we find on our plates is there with the help of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other animals.

Swallowtail butterflies love the clethra in my backyard

 Magazines, the web, newspapers and the media are worried about keeping pollinators happy and healthy. And, we, the gardening community, can do so much to encourage pollinators by what we plant and how we garden.

Maybe you've read the book by Doug Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home. In it Mr. Tallamy describes the importance of creating habitat for wildlife, including pollinators, at the edges of our own yards, in municipal parks, around farmland and other ecosystems.



A great read for information on gardening for wildlife

 Others, including those in government, have recognized this need and encouraged additional studies and created task forces to implement pollinator friendly practices to get our bees, butterflies, birds, even bats, back up to the numbers needed to provide food to keep our planet healthy. President Obama has even issued a memorandum directing more native plantings around federal buildings and campuses.

We have had the pleasure of getting to know bee expert and entomologist Dr. Jody Johnson, who has helped us understand bees a little better. She will be giving a talk here at Valley View Farms on Saturday, March 28th at 9:00. Following her talk, at 11, Claire Jones, an award-winning landscaper, garden blogger and beekeeper will be here to talk about her experiences with creating habitat for pollinators right here in the Baltimore area. Both women are very knowledgeable and engaging and have an obvious love and fascination for the natural world.

Dr. Johnson's studies took her to the almond groves of California for a huge pollinator event.


NPR and other media are covering the California almond pollinator story

We're curious to catch up with her to see how well the honey bee population performed during what is the largest bee gathering of its kind in the United States and to learn more about how bees socialize and do their work in our gardens. She is also working with a public utility company to implement plantings of large swaths of bee and butterfly friendly plants in rights-of-way in our region.

Claire will share her insights in a talk titled Sex in the Garden-Planting for Bees. I've gotten a sneak preview of her presentation and promise that attendees will walk away with a plan on how to create a beautiful and functional backyard habitat for pollinators.

Claire Jones is at home in her own garden

All of us at Valley View Farms see gardening as a way to make beauty and nature a part of our lives. We are committed to continuing our own education on how pollinators interact with plants and on maintaining a healthy environment for them, and for us.
 Children can get involved too! In fact, this year, we will be giving away 4,000 seed packets to kids featuring Lemon Queen Sunflowers as part of The Great Sunflower Project.

We are glad to share whatever resources we can, including the seminars, handouts and our signs, to aid in providing habitat for our wildlife friends.

Bee a pollinator-friendly gardener

Maintaining a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

The other day, a friend's daughter asked her mom why she had the herb fennel in the garden. "You don't even like fennel; why in the world are you growing it?" My friend replied without hesitation, "Fennel is a larval host plant for butterflies". In fact, the right plants attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and many other beneficial insects to the garden. Most important for gardeners, hobby orchardists and vegetable growers, is  providing attractive conditions for pollinators.

An oasis amid U. S. government buildings

 On a visit to the National Botanical Gardens, situated in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, I was able to see a sample of a pollinator garden.

A sign in the garden provided the following tips.

• Use a wide variety of plants that bloom from early spring into late fall. Include native plants. Remember night-blooming flowers too.
• Eliminate pesticides whenever possible. Many common pesticides are dangerous for bees.

Notice the pollen on the bee's legs

• Avoid hybrid "doubled" flowers that have little pollen ot nectar.
• Include larval host plants. If you want butterflies, grow plants for their caterpillars to eat.

A Swallowtail butterfly enjoying the nectar from a lantana

• Create a damp salt lick for butterflies and bees. Create a muddy area and mix in a bit of salt or wood ashes. Sea salt has more micronutrients than table salt.
• Put out slices of overripe bananas, oranges, or other fruits for butterflies.
• Spare that limb! Leave an occasional dead limb or tree to provide essential nesting sites for native bees. Make sure thay are not a safety hazard for people.

Marian's photo of a Ruby-throated hummingbird at a feeder

Provide a hummingbird feeder. For artificial nectar, use 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Never use artificial sweeteners, honey or fruit juices. Clean the feeder with hot, soapy water at least twice a week.

For additional information on pollinators, contact The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. Also, stop in and pick up a copy of our own handout on Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the Garden. It is an invaluable resource listing plants for larval feeding and nectar production.