Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Thursday 19 March 2020

This assortment of foxgloves, pictured growing June 9, 2019, near Langley, Wash., is attractive to a variety of pollinators, especially bumblebees.
Associated Press
`Re-Wilding’ your lawn takes work, especially at first

By DEAN FOSDICK scapes can be very low- of the growing season. ``Converting a lawn into a resort only, Jaffe said.
Associated Press maintenance.” Seeds are food to wildlife, meadow will look great in ``Chemicals are a tool in
“Re-wilding” is the trend to- Find plants that are suited and lifeless hollow stems three years and fantastic in the toolbox, and there are
ward diversifying traditional to your growing conditions are shelter. ``Birds who eat six, but the first year can be some situations where in-
lawns by putting in native and also to your goals for seeds appreciate it when tough going. vasive species have tak-
plants that flower and fruit, the site, Jaffe said. you don’t deadhead flow- ``Without an explanation, en such a foothold that
boosting wildlife popula- ``The great thing about ers,” said Theresa Badurek, neighbors could very well the use of herbicides can
tions. It returns more control working with native plants a horticulture agent with interpret your work as sim- mean the difference be-
of the home landscape to is that these are plants that the University of Florida Insti- ple laziness instead of habi- tween a project being ac-
nature. will grow in any conditions tute of Food and Agricultur- tat construction,” he said. complished or failing,” he
But such conservation you can think of,” he said. al Sciences. ``Less frequent Herbicides should be a last said.q
landscaping involves more ``There is no need to bring mowing allows pollinators
than simply quitting prun- in problem plants when to visit flowers before you
ing or letting properties go there are so many other mow. Less raking leaves
to seed. options.” provides habitat for benefi-
``More often than not, Weigh the risks against the cial insects.”
that would result in a yard rewards. Blackberries and No area is too small. ``Every
dominated by European thistles, for example, are space we can provide for
turf grasses and invasive popular with pollinators but nature to blossom is valu-
species,” said Dan Jaffe, painful to handle and diffi- able,” Badurek said. ``Re-
horticulturist and propaga- cult to contain. wilding containers can be
tor for the Norcross Wildlife ``Instead, work with wild helpful, especially if you
Sanctuary in Wales, Massa- strawberries or flower- need to add more flowers
chusetts. ing raspberries (no thorns to the garden.”
``With good planning and on those) or bee balm or Talk with your neighbors
establishment of a well- meadowsweet, or one of and check local ordinanc-
built landscape, it will ma- the hundreds of other op- es before going ahead.
ture into a space that can tions,” Jaffe said. Your project can be a posi-
be easily cultivated with Re-wilding also means re- tive influence on others, but
lazier gardening,” Jaffe laxing maintenance stan- let them know ``the early This white clover, photographed May 13, 2019, growing on a
said. ``When it comes right dards. Don’t rush to clean stages of the work can look lawn near Langley, Wash., is attractive to a variety of pollinators.
down to it, naturalistic land- up the garden at the end like a mess,” Jaffe said. Associated Press