tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post3992292336652762969..comments2023-08-25T05:23:46.334-04:00Comments on Sprouts and Wildlings, A Virginia Garden Blog: Earth Day ReadingSharon@SproutsandWildlingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16622277229615660467noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-2981389535791035762012-05-01T17:34:04.796-04:002012-05-01T17:34:04.796-04:00Pycnanthemum is mountain mint? What a great plant...Pycnanthemum is mountain mint? What a great plant. I love it too. What I thought was really interesting about this book was thinking about herbivorous bugs, too. There are non-natives that are just as good at attracting pollinators as native plants (think Butterfly Bush) but only the natives (for the most part) work for bugs that eat leaves and seeds, like caterpillars and many beetles and true bugs. Most of us are familiar with the fact that butterfly caterpillars are picky about what plants they eat, but apparently that is true for the vast majority of these insects. Since most of them are not showy and maybe feed at night or in the treetops, we don't think about it. But this huge hidden population of insects makes up a big part of birds' diets.<br /> Wow, I have to agree with you about ticks. We didn't have too many last year, but I'm sure with the mild winter, we'll have plenty this year. I wonder why all the birds in my yard don't do a better job of gobbling up the ticks?Sharon@SproutsandWildlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16622277229615660467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-79233150555607604832012-05-01T17:25:14.111-04:002012-05-01T17:25:14.111-04:00Hi Lea,
Glad to be of help. I think the flowers a...Hi Lea,<br />Glad to be of help. I think the flowers are very pretty, and your pictures of them are great.Sharon@SproutsandWildlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16622277229615660467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-30207043416090914822012-05-01T14:25:09.427-04:002012-05-01T14:25:09.427-04:00I'm a big believer in letting the ecosystem of...I'm a big believer in letting the ecosystem of a garden evolve and completely agree with his message. I have a lot of natives and just added smilacina racemosa, False Solomon's Seal, last fall. It has red berries for the birds in the winter. Pycnanthemum is also incredible for supporting beneficial insects and pollinators. The one bug I really hate, though, is ticks. Gross!Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-47128006297118581742012-04-30T23:10:34.823-04:002012-04-30T23:10:34.823-04:00Great Macro photos!
Thanks for your help identifyi...Great Macro photos!<br />Thanks for your help identifying my flower - Evening Primrose<br />With the Internet listing a lot of different Evening Primroses, I'll probably never know exactly which one it is, but that's OK - just the Common Name is fine with me.<br />Thanks again for your help!<br />LeaLeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05201714466868118083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-88553220383958536782012-04-30T20:47:04.766-04:002012-04-30T20:47:04.766-04:00Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for stopping...Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for stopping by to take a look.Sharon@SproutsandWildlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16622277229615660467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-24534173980794128832012-04-30T19:02:53.629-04:002012-04-30T19:02:53.629-04:00Fantastic details in these macros!Fantastic details in these macros!Kalahttp://amatterofhowyouseeit.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-46621241815176140732012-04-30T18:29:37.156-04:002012-04-30T18:29:37.156-04:00Aw, you don't like cicadas? To me they just s...Aw, you don't like cicadas? To me they just scream (literally) Summertime! It reminds me of school vacation. Really, though, I know what you mean. Personally I have two apparently conflicting feelings about insects. I think they're super cool and also a bit creepy at the same time. Kind of like why some people like scary movies or roller coasters, I guess. Even ones that really creep me out, like Black Widow spiders, are really fascinating to me.Sharon@SproutsandWildlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16622277229615660467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-27150386167171419182012-04-30T18:25:46.521-04:002012-04-30T18:25:46.521-04:00Thank you for setting up the project. I've en...Thank you for setting up the project. I've enjoyed reading your entry and a few others I've come across. I'm looking forward to reading some of the others.Sharon@SproutsandWildlingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16622277229615660467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-60692306851733107062012-04-30T08:35:57.724-04:002012-04-30T08:35:57.724-04:00Great macros shots of insects that I do not like.....Great macros shots of insects that I do not like...but should understand! (except for the butterfly) In my mind I know they serve a purpose...but they still freak me out!Jan n Jerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01511769102935583608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7443869983891888345.post-27691957671777033222012-04-29T22:06:53.400-04:002012-04-29T22:06:53.400-04:00What a great selection for The Earth Day Reading P...What a great selection for The Earth Day Reading Project! As I watch the birds lay their eggs and feed their young, it is obvious that insects play a very important role in nature. I look forward to reading more about this in your selection. Thank you for participating.The Sage Butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06252906325012065829noreply@blogger.com