#USDA Forest Service native irises

[foresthillsirisgardens-blog]

Follow the Rainbow: Our Native Irises

When we think of irises, our thoughts bring images of bearded irises. We think of the imported garden irises of the Siberian, Spuria, Dutch, and Japanese groups, and their myriad of colors and forms in peoples’ flower gardens. There are approximately 280 species of irises in the world. The majority of them are native to Europe and Asia. Even though the imported garden irises are very beautiful, the 28 iris species native to the United States are beautiful in their own right.

Join us, as we become the mythical messenger, Iris, of Greek mythology as we share with you the story of the native irises on our national forests and grasslands.

Bold and sassy or shy and reserved, irises greet us in springtime with spectacular, large, beautiful, eye-catching flowers. They exhibit a variety of colorful patterns and hues, from many shades of blue to violet, a pale delicate white or yellow, earthy tans and browns, to a flaunting copper-red, a stately deep maroon, and a brilliant yellow. Iris is depicted in mythology by a rainbow. These flowers of forest, meadow, and wetland live up to their mythical namesake. Our native irises are found in every state in the lower 48 and Alaska. Most of our irises are inhabitants of Pacific coastal areas and the southeastern states.

Irises are large, colorful, and beautiful flowers. Their different forms, color patterns, and the fact that they are easily grown and propagated, make them very popular garden ornamentals. Many of our native irises have over-lapping distributions and recurrent hybridization, both natural and artificial. This has produced hundreds of garden forms that have added greatly to the popularity of growing these native wildflowers in cultivation. Botanists and horticulturists have postulated that irises put a great deal of energy into producing numerous, very large, colorful flowers on a single plant to attract pollinators (bumblebees) at a time when many other plants are blooming and competing for pollinators as well. This tremendous use of stored reserves in spring is achievable, because unlike most flowering plants, both leaf surfaces of the iris can absorb light to provide the energy to photosynthesize and produce food for the plant that is stored in its rhizomes.

           Wild flag iris (Iris setosa) in a Southeast Alaska meadow. Photo by Jim Case, Sitka Ranger District.

Continuing loss of habitat threatens many of our native irises. Many of them occur in fragile, easily damaged habitats, such as wet meadows, swamps and other wetland habitats. Please be very careful not to damage the irises or their habitat when viewing and photographing irises in the wild.

Most of our native irises are extremely difficult to transplant. Most of these plants will not survive this disturbance. For this reason, on national forest lands, it is illegal to dig or pick the irises.

For those with a green thumb, it is best to grow your native irises from seed. When collecting seed from the wild, be very conservative and take no more than 10% of the available seed. Always gain permission of the landowner before collecting seed on their property. Collecting seed on the national forests and grasslands requires a permit. Please contact your nearest Forest Service office to request a permit. Native irises and their many derived hybrids and cultivars are readily available from the nursery trade. Seed are also available from iris seed exchange programs.

Some irises are rare or are becoming rare. We can reverse that trend with quality management and the help of our partners. Join us in the appreciation and conservation of our native irises and their habitats so that future generations will also be able to follow the rainbow to these precious wildflowers and enjoy their many benefits.

       For Further Information        

         Austin, Claire. 2005. Irises: A Gardener’s Encyclopedia. Timber Press. Portland,  OR

         Caillet, Marie, Kevin C. Vaughn, Farron Campbell, and Dennis Vercher (Contributing editors). 2000. The Louisiana Iris: The Taming of a Native American Wildflower. Timber Press, Portland, OR

         Goldblat, P. and J.C. Manning, 2008.  The Iris Family, Natural History and Classification.  Timber Press, Portland, OR

         Kohlein, Fritz. 1987. Iris. English translation. Timber Press. Portland,  OR

         Mahan, Clarence E. 2007. Classic Irises and the Men and Women Who Created Them. Krieger Publishing Company, Melbourne, FL

                Links        

         Plants Database Name Search Results for Scientific Name = Iris

         Flora of North America: Iris

         North American Native Iris

         American Iris Society

         Species Iris Group of North America

         The Species Iris Group of North America: Iris Species Database

         Society for Louisiana Irises

         Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris

         Zydeco Louisiana Iris Garden: The Species of Louisiana Iris

       Follow the Rainbow: Our Native Irises

Bold and sassy or shy and reserved, irises greet us in springtime with spectacular, large, beautiful, eye-catching flowers. Like a rainbow, they exhibit a variety of colorful patterns and hues from many shades of blue to violet, or a pale delicate white or yellow, earthy tans and browns, to a flaunting copper-red, a stately deep maroon and a brilliant yellow.

USDA Forest Service native irises

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/iris/index.shtml

[gethealthy18-blog]

Bee-Friendly Plants for Your Yard or Garden

New Post has been published on https://healingawerness.com/news/bee-friendly-plants-for-your-yard-or-garden/

Bee-Friendly Plants for Your Yard or Garden

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What would happen if one day 80% of flowering plants disappeared? If bees and pollinators die out, that’s exactly what would happen. Bee-friendly garden plants are a simple way to save the honey bees and make the world a better (and more beautiful) place.

Why Are Bees So Important?

In recent years there’s been more awareness to save the dying bee populations. But how important are bees really? Although they’re tiny, bees play a big role in our ecosystem.

According to the USDA Forest Service, over 80% of flowering plants need bees and pollinators to reproduce. This includes flowers, fruit trees, and many other fruits and vegetables. Bees also help pollinate flowers and plants other animals rely on for food.

Basically without bees… there is no us!

The Time to Act Is Yesterday

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service releases their honeybee surveys and reports every year. They’ve found bee colonies took a nosedive in the early 90s, but there’s been a slow uphill climb the past few years. While bees are still at risk of becoming endangered, it seems more people are addressing the issue. We need a whole lot more though!

We’re losing about 30% of bee colonies every single year. There’s only so much time before the clock runs out and we’ve lost our most important pollinators for good.

Build a Bee-Friendly Yard

One of the biggest changes we can make is to create a bee-friendly environment in our own backyards (and front yard, and side yard…). It may not seem like much, but the more people chip in the more of a difference we can make.

Here are some simple ways to create a haven for bees:

Get Lazy with the Lawnmower

Flowering “weeds” like dandelion and clover are food for hungry pollinators. A picture-perfect patch of green grass may look good in a magazine, but for a bee it’s like an empty buffet. Keeping grass higher and ditching the weed killer means more flowers and wild plants have a chance to grow.

Filling your yard with bee-friendly plants and not mowing wildflowers is a big first step. When a neighbor makes a comment about the “weeds,” that’s a golden opportunity to spread the bee-saving message.

Variety Show

Just like we don’t want to eat only broccoli all day every day, bees also need a variety of foods. Diverse plant life also makes for healthier soil and attracts beneficial insects that feed on the bad bugs.

GMO monocrops, like corn and soy, rely on pesticides that kill wildflowers and decimate friendly insects. Other farms rely on bees to pollinate, but unfortunately many of them still use bee damaging/killing pesticides. Almond groves are a prime example.

We can advocate for better forms of bug control by voting with our dollars and supporting organic farms. Some small farmers don’t use pesticides but aren’t certified organic. It’s worth asking around at the local farmer’s market!

We can also use natural, pollinator-friendly pest control methods in our home gardens.

Not All Plants Are Created Equal

There’s more to making a pollinator garden than setting out some flowers. Certain bees prefer certain plants, and some colors are more attractive than others. Bright colored flowers, especially purple, are more likely to bring bees.

Avoid Neonics

Aka neonicotinoids, this class of pesticides was developed in the 1990s and is widely used. Unfortunately there’s evidence neonics are harming our eco-system, including the bee population. Seeds are coated in the neonicotinoids and as the plant grows the pesticide becomes part of the plant. The pollen and nectar are then poisonous to bees and other pollinators.

Plants and seeds treated with neonics should be clearly marked, so be sure to carefully read any labels before purchase.

A Pollinator Garden for Every Season

While dandelions and purple dead nettle are great for spring and early summer bee food, there’s the rest of the year to think about. It helps to plant different flowers that will be in bloom throughout the summer and into the fall.

In the plant lists below, many are marked with when they’re in bloom. By planting a variety, bees can eat throughout the seasons before they go dormant in winter.

Plant by Zone

Many plants work in most growing zones, but if possible, native plants are the way to go. This website has details on native species for pollinators tailored to each area of the US.

Best Plants for Bees and Other Pollinators

Flowers usually come to mind when we think about food for bees. However, flowering trees are the biggest food source for pollinators. The Arbor Day Foundation recommends the following trees for a pollinator garden.

Trees

Maple

Serviceberry – prefers areas with cold winters

Koelreuteria – a popular variety is the goldenraintree

Fruit trees – plums, apples, crabapples, peaches, cherries, and pears are good options.

Crapemyrtle – Flowers late spring through summer

Liquidamber – a popular variety is American Sweetgum

Black tumelo – Native to eastern states and yields especially good honey for honey bees.

Sourwood – native to eastern states and produces seed capsules into winter.

Linden – Silver linden and littleleaf linden are popular species

Hawthorn

Tulip trees

Southern magnolia

Privets

Pollinator Garden Flowers

Here are some flowers bees, butterflies, and other pollinators rely on. Not every plant will grow in every area. Be sure to check which growing conditions a plant prefers before planting.

Columbine – blooms mid spring to early summer

Lupine – spring

Dandelion – spring through fall.

Clover – early spring through summer, depending on the variety

Irises – early summer

Milkweed – blooms throughout the summer

Marigold  –   blooms throughout the summer

Rocky mountain iris – summer

Aspen fleabane – summer through fall

Gentian – mid summer to fall

Sunflowers – summer and into fall

Wild bergamot (also known as bee balm) – blooms late summer through early fall

Rose – begins blooming in May. Depending on the variety it may only bloom once per season.

Goldenrod – end of summer through fall

Joe pye weed – blooms late summer through fall

Fruits and Vegetables

Blueberry

Eggplant

Legumes

Watermelon

Tomatoes

Pumpkin

Strawberry

Edible and Medicinal Herbs

Where to Buy Pollinator Plants

Check your local garden store, neighborhood plant swap, or grow them from seed!

Our pollinator friends still may be in danger, but there’s plenty we can do to help them out! You can read lots more about gardening and get tons of tips for how to grow and maintain a garden here. 

Sources:

Anderson, C. (2020, April, 21). 7 Flowering Herbs for Bees. Carolina Honey Bees. https://carolinahoneybees.com/best-herbs-for-bees-and-homesteading/

Arbor Day Foundation. (N.D.). Trees for Bees and Other Pollinators. Arbor Day. https://www.arborday.org/trees/health/pests/article-trees-for-bees.cfm

Kaplan, K. (2020, March 13). Fact Sheet: Survey of Bee Losses During Winter of 2012/2013. USDA. https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/br/beelosses/index/

Pollinator Partnership. (N.D.). List of Pollinated Food. Pollinator. https://pollinator.org/list-of-pollinated-food

USDA. (2020, April, 4). Surveys. United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Bee_and_Honey/

Source: https://wellnessmama.com/426197/bee-friendly-plants/