Subject: more on hummingbird flowers Date: 11 Mar 92 02:58:38 GMT >>Just becaust a flower is red doesn't mean it has nectar. My biggest > I also poked all sorts of things into the flowers and disected lots of them > and never was able to find anything in the way of nectar in them. I think > it is all a myth. Plants have some neat little games they play with pollinators that are after nectar. Remember, nectar represents a lot of sugar that isn't going to do the plant any good at all (except reproducing the next generation), and it's hard work pushing all those little electrons up energy hills with photons to make sugar. So each molecule of sugar represents a "cost" to the plant. Plants "try" to maximize the number of pollinator visits they get for the amount of sugar they put out. Problems: butterflies will respond to much lower concentrations of sugar than bees will. Bees respond to much lower sugar concentrations than hummingbirds. So being a hummingbird flower is much more wasteful of sugar (which represents energy that could be used for growth) than being a butterfly flower. So: how do you minimize the cost of this sugar? Bankers didn't invent fraud, plants did. Plan 1. If your flower looks a lot like another flower that's blooming at the same time, and has nectar, you may not need to make nectar. The pollinators may make some dumb mistakes, and you get your flowers pollinated free. Plan 2. Pollinators will hang around an inflorescence (flower cluster) as long as there's nectar every once in a while. Maybe every 10th flower. So if you have 50 flowers in a cluster, maybe only 5 of them are making nectar at any one time. And the flowers making nectar are switched around, so pollinators have to keep moving around looking for the nectar. After all, if one flower is a good meal, you might as well go home instead of accidentally moving pollen around while you're hunting for lunch... If you want to find nectar, one of the best places to look is at the base of the ovary. Usually the nectary is a small ring of white tissue. Catch it at the right time, and it will be a gooey ring of white tissue. Re: Plantings to encourage wildlife (from Usenet, rec.gardens) Subject: natives to attract wildlife Date: 23 Apr 92 07:24:12 GMT I just finished this late to hand out at Earth Day at the State Park where I will be representing the California Native Plant Society and selling Native plants. Thought it might be of interest and also would appreciate any comments. NATIVE PLANTS THAT PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT Unless mentioned otherwise, the following lists are regarding the value of the seed, fruit or berry of the plant mentioned TREES Acer macrophyllum BIG-LEAF MAPLE Goldfinches, Bees, Raccoons Aesculus californica CALIFORNICA BUCKEYE Hummingbirds Alnus rhoombifolia WHITE ALDER Warblers, Goldfinches, Pine Siskins Cedar Waxwings Cornus nuttallii PACIFIC DOGWOOD Western Tanagers, Warblers, robins, Thrushes, Woodpeckers, Tree Swallows, many others Cupressus Governiana GOWEN'S CYPRESS Thrushes, Mockingbirds, Pigeons Opossums, Coyotes Juglans Hindsii BLACK WALNUT Jays, Pigeons, Squirrels Lithocarpus densiflora TANBARK OAK Jays, Meadowlarks, Pheasants, Pigeons, Titmice, Thrashers, Quail, Woodpeckers, Rabbits, Raccoons Squirrels, Mice, Foxes Pinus attenuata KNOBCONE PINE Chickadees, Doves, Finches, Jays, Sparrows, Rabbits, Squirrels Platanus racemosa CALIFORNIA SYCAMORE Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, House, Purple finches, Pine Siskins, Red-Tailed Hawks, Woodpeckers Populus fremontii FREMONT'S COTTONWOOD Foxes, Squirrels, Mice Populus tremuloides QUAKING ASPEN Rabbits, Deer, Grouse, Opossum Populus trichocarpa BLACK COTTONWOOD same, hairs on seeds used in nesting materials Pseudotsuga menziesii DOUGLAS FIR Deer, Squirrels, Woodrats Quercus OAKS All species of oaks valuable to: Mallard, Clapper rails Wooducks, Pheasants, Jays, Pigeons, Finches, Quail, Thrushes Chickadees, Towhees, Grosbeaks, Nuthatches, Raccoons, Foxes Also provide shelter, nesting sites and many insects for birds Sequoia sempervirens COAST REDWOOD Jays, Pigeons, Wrens, Chickadees Torreya californica CALIFORNIA NUTMEG Squirrels SHRUBS Adenostoma fasciculatum CHAMISE Bees, Goldfinches, Grosbeaks, Raccoons, Deer, Woodrats, Mice Amelancher pallida SERVICE BERRY Thrushes, other birds and mammals Arctostaphylos MANZANITA Excellent for Quail, Doves, Mockingbirds Robins, Thrushes, Cedar Waxwings, Grosbeaks, Finches, Towhees, Sparrows, Raccons, Skunks, Squirrels, Coyotes, Deer, Hummingbirds Atriplex lentiformis QUAIL BUSH Quail, Finches, Towhees, Sparrows, Rabbits. Good shelter Baccharis pilularis COYOTE BRUSH Deer, Butterflies Berberis nevinii NEVIN'S BARBERRY Quail, Doves, Mockingbirds, Robins, Thrushes, Cedar Waswings, Grosbeaks, Finches, Towhees, Sparrows Thrashers. Also good shelter Calycanthus occidentalis SPICE BUSH Robins, Thrushes, Pheasants Ceanothus WILD LILAC Quail, Hummingbirds, Bush-Tits, Mockingbirds,ds Thrashers, Thrushes, Warblers, Grosbeaks, Finches, Juncos, Rabbits, Squirrels, Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds Clematis lasiantha and ligustifolia Hummingbirds Cercis occidentalis REDBUD Goldfinches and Hummingbirds Cornus stolonifera CREEK DOGWOOD Mockingbirds, Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Cedar Waxwings, Woodpeckers, Pigeons, Raccoons, Deer Diplacus aurantiacus ORANGE MONKEYFLOWER Hummingbirds Diplacus puniceus RED BUSH MONKEYFLOWER same Diplacus longiflorus SOUTHERN MONKEYFLOWER same Eriogonum fasciculatum CALIFORNIA BUCKWHEAT Oregon Juncos, Towhees, Squirrels, Bees, Butterflies Galvezia speciosa ISLAND SNAPDRAGON Hummingbirds Gaultheria shallon SALAL Thrashers, Chickadees, Thrushes, Finches Heteromeles arbutifolia TOYON Cedar Waxwing, Towhees, Quail, Mourning Doves, Wrentits, Finches, Robins, Pigeons, Western Bluebirds Lonicera hispidula CALIFORNIA HONEYSUCKLE Finches, Hermit Thrushes, Rabbits, Hummingbirds Lonicera interrupta same Lonicera involucrata TWINBERRY same Lupinus albifrons SILVER LUPINE Quail, Squirrels Mahonia aquifolium OREGON GRAPE Cedar Waxwings, Robins, Pheasants Mockingbirds, Finches, Deer. Good shelter Myrica californica CALIFORNIA WAX MYRTLE Cedar Waxwings, Chickadees, Towhees, Orioles, Wrentits, Warblers Osmoronia cerasiformis OSO BERRY Mockingbirds, Pigeons Prunus ilicifolia HOLLYLEAF CHERRY birds, small mammals and deer Quercus durata LEATHER OAK same Rhamnus californica CALIFORNICA COFFEEBERRY Pigeons, Jays, Robins, Mockingbirds, Thrashers, Cedar Waxwings, Purple Finches Rhamnus crocea REDBERRY same Rhamnus ilicifolia HOLLYLEAF REDBERRY same, plus Quail Rhus integrifolia LEMONADE BERRY Quail, Flickers, Finches, Pheasants Juncos, Jays, Mockingbirds, Robins, Thrushes, Finches, Grosbeaks Catbirds, Chickadees, Towhees Rhus ovata SUGARBUSH same Ribes aureum GOLDEN CURRANT Many birds eat berries, hummingbirds Ribes californicum CALIFORNICA CURRANT same Ribes malvaceum CHAPPARAL CURRANT hummingbirds Ribes menziesii Quail, Thrashers, Robins, Thrushes, Finches, Towhees Ribes sanguineum RED FLOWERED CURRENT Hummingbirds Ribes speciosum FUCHSIA FLOWERED GOOSEBERRY same Rosa californica CALIFORNICA ROSE Pine Siskins. Goldfinches, Quail, Thrushes, Pheasants, Raccoons, good nesting sites Rubus vitifolius WESTERN BLACKBERRY good for fruit and cover Salix WILLOW Warblers, Thrushes, Fox sparrows, Finches Salvia clevelandii CLEVELANDS SAGE Hummingbirds, Sparrows Salvia leucophylla PURPLE SAGE same Salvia mellifera BLACK SAGE same, also bees and finches Salvia sonomensis CREEPING SAGE same Sambucus glauca CALIFORNICA ELDERBERRY Pigeons, Wren-Tits, Mock- ingibrds, Finches, Towhees, Robins, Deer Symphoricarpos albus SNOWBERRY Hummingibrds, Mockingbirds, Towhees Finches, Grosbeaks, Cedar Waxwings, Deer. Good cover Trichostemma lanatum WOOLY BLUE CURLS Hummingbirds Vaccinum ovatum HUCKLEBERRY Pigeons, Mourning Doves, Foxes, Raccoons Opossum, Rabbits, Deer Vitus californica CALIFORNICA WILD GRAPE all birds PERENNIALS Aquilegia formosa WESTERN COLUMBINE Hummingbirds, seeds eaten by small birds Aquilegia exima same Cynoglossum grande WESTERN HOUNDS TOUNGE Hummingbirds Delphinium cardinale SCARLET LARKSPUR Hummingbirds, Finches Delphinium nudicale same Eriogonum species BUCKWHEATS Butterflies, bees Fragaria californica BEACH STRAWBERRY berries good food source Heuchera maxima ISLAND ALUM ROOT Hummingbirds Heuchera macrantha ALUM ROOT same Iris species seeds eaten by birds Keckiella corymbosa BUSH PENSTEMON Hummingbirds Keckiella cordifolia HEARTLEAF PENSTEMON same Keckiella ternatus SAME Mimulus cardinalis SCARLET MONKEYFLOWER Hummingbirds Monardella macrantha MOUNTAIN PENNYROYAL Hummingbirds Monardella villosa COYOTE MINT Hummingbirds Penstemon centranthifolious, P. labrosus, P. newberryi, P. barbatus, P. clevelandii Hummingbirds P. heterophyllus, P. spectablis, P. speciosus, etc. Penstemon seed eaten by small birds Satureja mimuloides Hummingbirds Wyethia helenoides GRAY MULE EARS seed good for birds and mammals Zauschineria californica CALIFORNICA FUCHSIA Hummingbirds Re: Books on plantings for wildlife (from Usenet, rec.gardens) Dear folks: Try your local conservation commission/department of natural resources/horticulture departments at local universities. Many states have similar lists. I've got the Minnesota Non-Game Wildlife Program's _Landscaping for Wildlife_ sitting in my lap at the moment. 145 pages of great information on both the plants and the animals, all for the piddling sum of $9. The National Wildlife Federation also offers a "Gardening for Wildlife" kit that I haven't seen. Has booklets, landscape plans, bird feeder designs, seeds for butterfly and hummingbird attractant plants, and some other goodies. (1412 16th St NW, Washington DC 20036). Re: Wildlife plantings (from Usenet, rec.gardens) Subject: Guide to Wildlife Food Habits If you're looking for a cheap sourcebook on who eats what, I recommend "American Wildlife & Plants: A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits" by Alexander C. Martin, Herbert S. Zim and Arnold L. Nelson. Originally published by McGraw-Hill in 1951, my copy is the 1961 Dover republication. Although the focus is on game animals and cute&fuzzies, there is a small section on fish, reptiles and amphibians. The major portion of the book is organized by group of animals (for instance, in the "Songbird section", under Cedar Waxwing, there is a rough US distribution map, a short discussion of the biology of the species, and a list of the "best" food plants in four regions of the country (in the NE, the winners are redcedar, wild cherry, and flowering dogwood, followed by blackberry, hackberry, chokecherry, mulberry, serviceberry, blackhaw, pokeweed, grape, and some minor species. Another section of the book is arranged by species of plants, or groups of similar species. For instance, witch hazel seeds are listed as being heavily used by ruffed grouse, and less heavily by wild turkey... Subject: More "Landscaping for Wildlife" Date: 6 May 92 02:41:53 GMT More information shamelessly stolen from the excellent book, "Landscaping for Wildlife", from the Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources' Nongame Wildlife Program. $8.95 from DNR Giftshop, 500 Lafayette Rd, St Paul, MN 55101 Trees, shrubs and vines rated "Excellent" for butterflies, moths and bees: Acer negundo box elder Aristolochia durior dutchman's pipe Betula spp. birches Ceanothus americanus NJ tea Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonball bush Cercis canadensis redbud Clethra alnifolia sweet pepperbush Eleagnus commutata silverberry Ledum groenlandicum labrador tea Lindera benzoin spicebush Philadephicus coronarius sweet mockorange Populus spp. aspens Prunus spp. cherries and plums Quercus spp. oaks Rubus spp. blackberries & raspberries Salix discolor pussywillow Salix humilis prairie willow Salix nigra black willow Salix pentandra laurel willow Spiraea alba narrowleaf meadowsweet Spiraea latifolia broadleaf meadowsweet Spirea tomentosa hard hack Symphoricarpos occidentalis wolfberry, coralberry Viburnum lantana wayfaring bush Wiegelia florida wiegelia Annuals ------- dill heath aster borage calendula canterbury bells cleome Dianthus barbatus (sweet william) heliotrope jewelweed touch-me-not sweet pea four o'clock sweet marjoram flowering tobacco petunia parsley anise blackeyed susan, gloriosa daisy scarlet sage winter savory marigold tithonia nasturtium garden verbena zinnia Subject: "Landscaping for Wildlife" Date: 6 May 92 02:27:53 GMT Some information shamelessly stolen from the excellent book, "Landscaping for Wildlife", from the Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources' Nongame Wildlife Program. $8.95 from DNR Giftshop, 500 Lafayette Rd, St Paul, MN 55101 (no, no connection except one of my students will begin working with another division of the DNR next week...) Plants rated "Excellent" for landscaping for wildlife: (*=native to MN) Conifers -------- *Abies balsamea Abies concolor Chamaecyparis thyoides Juniperus chinensis Juniperus communis *Juniperus virginiana Larix decidua *Larix laricina Picea abies *Picea glauca Picea glauca densata *Picea mariana Picea rubens *Pinus banksiana Pinus ponderosa var scopulorum *Pinus resinosa *Pinus strobus Pinus nigra Pseudotsuga menziesii *Tsuga canadensis Grasses ------- *Andropogon gerardii *Andropogon scoparius *Bouteloua curtipendula *Panicum virgatum *Sorghastrum nutans Legumes ------- *Amorpha canescens *Amorpha nana *Astragalus adsurgens *Astragalus agrestis *Astragalus canadensis *Astragalus crassicarpus *Lotus purshianus *Oxytropis lambertii *Petalostemon candidum (=Dalea candida) *Petalostemon purpureum (=Dalea purpurea) *Psoralea argophylla *Psoralea esculenta *Vicia americana (red clover, white clover, alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil rate only "fair")