Page 29 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2020

Butterfly Garden Feeds Pollinators
By Cindy Lindh
A gathering of local groups in Sonoma brought focus to the urgency of
Recently I had some lawn signs and a banner created at FastSigns in Windsor. I have one in front of my house, one at the Chamber (train depot) and this one I gave to Andrea Nofi who is a Charge Nurse on the ICU unit at Sutter Hospital. I also donated some to the Town of Windsor to put around Windsor. The purpose of the sign is to thank all essential workers. Because I believe that not all heroes wear capes. If you’d like one also you can get one at FastSigns.
protecting pollinators during Pollinator Week. Championed by Mayor Logan Harvey who signed the National Wildlife Federation’s Monarch Mayors’ Pledge a year ago on behalf of The City of Sonoma to protect and to provide habitat for Monarch Butterflies, he was pleased to see the campaign’s expanded embrace by the community that benefits other species as well.
It’s July and we are tired. Everyone had make personal sacrifices, whether it was staying home, home schooling your children, missing out
on birthday celebrations just to name a few. We did this so we can combat COVID-19. However, because of all of this hard work we are beginning to open up again, slowly but surely. But keep in mind we are not done yet. Please continue to be patient.
Like the rest of the attendees, and wildlife groups in general, the mayor remains hopeful that this will not be the last summer for the Western Monarch Butterfly as has been predicted by various researchers from UC-Davis to the Xerces Society and others. He encourages residents to participate in an all-out effort to garden on behalf of all pollinators which are disappearing globally.
Normally my column (Ha with the title of What’s Up in Windsor) has lots of cool items that are coming up. But right now, events cancelled, for our health and well-being. I had two people reach out to me to include their projects, so I want to give them “some love”. So, let’s see if we can support them.
Attendees gathered at the Monarch/Pollinator Garden at 252 W. Spain Street behind First Congregational Church/Shir Shalom to exchange native seeds, native plants, and ideas. Pollinators are a keystone species which hold our ecosystems together, support the air we breathe, the food we eat, the beverages we consume, and the medicines we take.
100 Monarch Waystations 2020
Attendees went on to tour the CA State Historic Park-Vallejo Home where native milkweed is grown for distribution to the public and for habitat restoration. Lynn Luzzi demonstrated extensive efforts there to nurture additional native cultivars which originally served to sustain pollinators and other life around the Vallejo Home and in the Sonoma Valley.
The Western Monarch butterfly population is down to <1% of its historic levels and is dangerously close to extinction. The good news is that home gardeners can make a difference-but only if we rally!
They toured the Sonoma Garden Park under management of the Sonoma Ecology Center (sonomaecologycenter.org ) where their leadership blooms as the staff endeavors to sustain the ecological health of Sonoma Valley. Jason Mills, Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner, pointed out the micro- climate restoration areas within the community where he and his colleagues are working to protect and restore native species and habitats.
Windsor Garden Club is looking for 100 home gardeners who want to help monarch butterflies by planting critically needed butterfly gardens at their home. As a community, we can create monarch corridors through our neighborhoods that are beautiful, resilient, and ecologically powerful.
Lisa Segraves from Sonoma Land Trust explained the organization’s commitment to conservation and the value of biodiversity. Mia Monroe
of Xerces Society for the Conservation of Invertebrates explained that, “Unfortunately, biodiversity loss continues to be a vital issue. We are losing animals at an astonishing rate, yet most of the reporting on this issue does not even consider the loss of insects and other invertebrates.“
are combining their magic to provide the ultimate camp this summer! Their summer camp offers a well-rounded experience with daily activities in visual art, dance, drama and music! Campers will have the opportunity to take a break from the shelter-in-place in a responsible way with all safety precautions. Please see our website to learn about how we will be offering responsible care for our campers: www.mozartpianolearning.com/camp Session 1 - July 13-17: Disney Movies & Broadway Hits - activities for this session will be fused with crowd pleasers.
Ms. Monroe stressed the importance of Citizen Science, public participation in scientific research, specifically in the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper: (https://www.monarchmilkweedmapper.org).
Session 2 - July 20-24: Our Planet. Our Future. - activities for this session will focus on reusing as we create and will incorprate messaging for a positive future (for both our environment and self).
You can make a positive difference in your home environment. Provide a diverse assortment of flowering plants and encourage native species in your landscape. Look for alternative ways to deal with pest and disease issues before reaching for a quick fix. These often come at a price.
We want Windsor to open up, slowly and safely. Come on out and support local businesses. Please remember to do the appropriate social distancing and WEAR your mask. We will get through this. Windsor is resilient.
Learn about and practice IPM (Integrated Pest Management). The actions you take in and around your garden can help promote the population of pollinators in your landscape. See more at Growing a Greener World (www. growingagreenerworld.com). We Can’t Live Without Pollinators!
If you have something, you’d like me to share in the August issue of Sonoma Gazette please email meat Lorene@mac.com by July 18th. I am happy to share it; we ARE all in this together. Stay well.
The theme of my July column is GRATITUDE.
We can never say it enough “Thank YOUs” to the countless essential workers of Windsor! Seriously, thank you to essential workers including Doctors, Nurses, Environmental Service works, Firefighters, Paramedics, Police, Mail/ UPS and FedEx workers, Grocery and Retail. All folks who work tirelessly to make life continue as we were all in Shelter In Place (SIP)
Thank you to every resident for your patience and support during these unprecedented times. Three months into this pandemic I still get occasional thoughts saying, “I can’t believe we are all living though this”. Someday we will make reference like “remember life pre-COVID-19 and now it is post”. WOW, we are in the middle of history.
Join us as we rally to save this iconic butterfly! For native milkweed starts, plant lists, seeds, and info contact Cindy at cfenton1957@gmail.com
Windsor Performing Arts Academy and Move Over Mozart
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