Invite a Monarch to Lunch-Trecia Neal, Biologist and Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist
Our February meeting featured Trecia Neal educating us on the biology and ecology of the monarch, why the migration is endangered, as well as current conservation efforts and how you can help.
Pollinators have been in the news lately because of the dramatic drop in the numbers scientists and citizens have observed and reported data on for the last few years for several very interesting Citizen Science projects. Monarchs are an iconic and well-loved species, the state insect of seven different states. The monarch is the only butterfly to make a two-way migration. Currently, the migration is listed as “an endangered natural phenomena”.
Trecia Neal was a biologist at Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta for over 30 years. She retired in 2017. Her areas of expertise are ornithology, environmental education, and establishing outdoor classrooms and gardens at schools. For over eighteen years, she has been teaching students and teachers about the wonders of monarchs. Trecia has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in science education with an emphasis in animal behavior.
For more information about Trecia's education programs visit: http://www.greengardensedu.com
Additional resources: Monarch Waystations and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
A Year in the Life of a Hummingbird
Avon Garden Club’s fall season began with a special guest at the September 5th meeting. Sibby, an injured, flightless Ruby-throated hummingbird, was the featured guest along with his rehabilitator, Melanie Furr, Director of Education, and Atlanta Audubon Society.
Ms. Furr presented photos and a lecture about hummingbirds including such facts as a hummingbird egg is about the size of a jelly bean and an adult hummer normally weighs about the same amount as a copper penny.
The Ruby-throated hummer is the only hummingbird variety that regularly breeds in Georgia, usually producing only two eggs. Other varieties of hummers can be found in Georgia at times during their migration to winter in the southern hemisphere.
In addition to the nectar generally associated with hummingbirds, they also catch and eat small insects for the protein value.
Ms. Furr outlined several steps that homeowners can take to help hummingbirds: use plants with tube-shaped flowers to provide nutrition or use a hummingbird feeder with home-made nectar (use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water to make inexpensive nectar—don’t use red-dyed commercial nectar), decrease nocturnal light pollution that can confuse flying hummingbirds and cause them to fly into the light and into windows, and avoid using insecticide which reduces the number of insects available for hummers to eat.
Ms. Furr also encouraged members to drink shade-grown coffee which is grown in such a way as to allow adequate habitat for wintering birds in the southern hemisphere.
Why is his gorget an iridescent red at times, and at other times, just a patch of dark feathers?
The little individual feathers that make up the Ruby-throated Hummingbird's gorget are not red at all. They have no pigment or coloration within them.They (sometimes) look red, but the color comes from the shape and microscopic structure of the feathers and how light interacts with those microscopic structures. Just a slight turn of the head/body can make all the difference.
Honey Bees & Bee-yond
Our program in January 2019 was a delightful and very informative presentation all about bees. Georgia is home to some 500 species of bees, many of these bees can be found in backyards around Decatur, GA.
Peter Helfrich, the chairperson of Bee City USA gave us a crash course in honey bees and many other tyeps of native bees.
We learned valuable tips for creating a bee friendly yard as well as the type of flowers that bees love.
Mr. Helfrich was kind enough to create a PDf of the presentation and you can click here to download it.
Planting & Caring for Perennials
Our March program speaker was Chris Adams, an avid traveler, sailor and a Master Gardener since 2006. She was the 2016 president of the North Fulton Master Gardeners and the Sandy Springs Garden Club for 2013-2015.
The class covered getting started, as well as tips and techniques to help your perennials prosper for years to come.