Butterflies taste with their feet! Their sense of taste is 200 times more powerful than a human being. Once the butterfly lands on the plant, it can immediately determine if it’s good to eat. It also helps them determine if the plant is suitable for their babies to hatch and grow.
“I see trees of green, Red roses too.
I see them bloom, For me and you
And I think to myself, What a wonderful world”
– Lyrics to “A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
This song always makes me think of beautiful yards. But a beautiful yard is in the eyes of the beholder. Personally, I love my “white” yard. Lots of people see clover or other wild flowers in the yard as a weed and/or foe. But did you know that these wild flowers are what the pollinators survive on in the spring? The garden flowers have not yet bloomed, but the pollinators are already out and about, and need sustenance. That’s where these lovely flowers come into play and are a staple in the feeding of pollinators.
I know people love a lush green yard. But do you know the consequences of having one? If you eradicate the clover and other wild flowers from your yard with chemicals, not only are you killing off the much needed food for all the pollinators, but you are also killing the insects that live in the soil as well as your local song birds that feed off these insects.
Instead of using chemicals, EMBRACE the wild flowers growing in your yard. You will be amazed with all the creatures that will enjoy them. And in turn, you will get to enjoy knowing you have a pollinator friendly yard and will be rewarded with these wonderful whimsical winged creatures. What a wonderful world, indeed.
You hate mosquitos. I hate mosquitos. EVERYONE hates mosquitos.
Because of this, millions of people use companies to help eradicate these unwanted pests. But did you know that you’re killing more than just mosquitos? You are killing all the good insects too, including our beloved pollinators.
The wind – no matter how faint – can also transfer the chemicals that are being sprayed. As they’re being sprayed onto certain areas of your home (typically plants), the wind can carry them to plants that you may not want to be poisoned. It’s impossible to fully contain the spray and what plants it hits.
These chemical sprays kill the mosquitos, but they also kill our beloved caterpillars and butterflies. The reason being, the spray will hit the plants which both the caterpillars and butterflies eat. So not only will they be poisoned and die, but any bird or other creature that eats the insect will be poisoned as well.
Great alternatives for keeping mosquitos at bay – remove any standing water in your yard and purchase plants! Plants are great for helping to keep mosquitos at bay. Some top plants are citronella, lavender, and mint – to name a few. Additional types of plants that can repel mosquitos can be found at: https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/g2479/plants-that-repel-mosquitoes/
Also, don’t forget to use mosquito spray on you! If you use the spray on your body, which you can easily wash off, this too will keep you protected, but won’t harm the environment.
So enjoy your yard this summer, mosquito free, while also enjoying our beloved butterflies!