Floral Diversity in a Home Garden
This is such a great topic and very here and now given the state of Climate change and environmental issues. Flower farmers tend to Not get caught up in monoculture since we grow a number of different plants. Flowers and lots of Greenery (I am guilty of not growing enough greenery) are required for Bouquet making and Wholesale Flowers. But so much stewardship is actually involved in nurturing our environment for beautiful, healthy and safe flowers!
The first couple years I started to think I had to pull weeds like crazy in order to keep all the ‘Thug” bugs away from my cultivated baby seedlings. I also wanted to be totally pesticide free so I struggled. Then I learned about utilizing Natural Insect Control (NIC). I stopped pulling out as much Queen Anne’s Lace and used it to act as a draw for Predator Bugs!!! Soldier beetles suddenly started showing up in droves for one. The greater the diversity of my plantings each year the more varied my bugs became, both predators and thugs. At the same time I added bird baths and watched over my little ponds and added bird houses. Truly if you build it they will come! Bugs are the food for the birds as well as seeds! My tadpoles and frog populations in my ponds are the perfect barometer of environmental health! But I did give up on fish in my large pond thanks to a Blue Heron!
Owls are in our spruce forest just south of our house. Hawks have made a stunning come back in our area. Wild flowers I had never seen before are popping up due to birds travelling through the area.
Just remember the health of your soil because it is the base of your garden and ultimately your ecosystem. Plant pollinators in your garden, and expand your gardens. STOP using ANY Pesticides!! A pesticide is a pesticide no matter whether the main ingredient is Organic in origin or not. Bees and Honey bees suffer! Soap and water are safe alternatives. Search out varieties that repel insects and give you beautiful colour in your landscape at the same time. Marigolds are one simple addition. Don’t get rid of all those weeds/wildflowers, speaking as an elder stateswoman save your back!!! Celebrate diversity!!!!!
Just remember, summers are getting hotter here in Zone 5 and everywhere so carefully study what flowers can handle heat as well as drought. Last year Dahlias had a tough time in the extreme heat, it wasn’t the drought that slowed them down. Not so much direct sun was the only alternative. Demand for shade cloth will go up!
Soldier Beetles on Queen Anne’s Lace