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| Country Views (Spring 2008) |
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Promoting Pollinators
Pollinators are in decline across North
America. That’s bad news for the 100 crop species that require a visit from a pollinator. You can help butterflies, bumble bees, humming birds, and other pollinators by planting some pollinator friendly habitat. “Turn a fence row or some of your lawn into a butterfly garden,” recommends Laurie Adams, executive director of
the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. "It’s best to plant native species that
will attract pollinators who live in your area.
Plant diversity is also key. Choose species that
will provide a long flowering season and
a variety of blossom sizes."
Suggestions. For regional planting suggestions that may work in your area and other ideas, check out www.pollinator.org.
Preventing Pond Algae
If you’ve ever searched for a way to control
algae in a pond you may have heard about
barley straw. It has been touted as the
low-impact way to clean up a green pond.
But does it work? "It depends" is the definitive
answer from Steve McComas, a lake and
pond consultant with Blue Water Science in St.
Paul, Minn. "Our research shows barley straw
can control the pea-green soup type of algae,"
states McComas. "However, we haven’t seen
similar control of the filamentous algae—the
thick floating mat you see on some ponds."
Microbes. McComas notes that not everyone gets good results and he has some ideas why. "Because barley straw is deficient in phosphorus, the microbes that break it down draw
phosphorus out of the pond water. We believe
it is this reduction of phosphorus that inhibits
algae growth. However, if the pond water is
too high in phosphorus, the decomposing
straw may have little impact on the algae."
Studies also show that barley straw is better
at preventing algae growth than killing existing
algae, so a spring application of straw is best.
Check out http://www.btny.purdue.edu/pubs/
APM/APM-1-W.pdf for rates and techniques.
Kitten Season
Spring is kitten season in many parts of the countryside. And as cute as the little rascals may be, today’s little kittens can start producing more kittens in as few as six months! That’s why Nancy Peterson, feral cat program manager with The Humane Society of United States, recommends you spay or neuter your kittens early. "When your kitten
is getting that rabies shot at 4-months of age,"
advises Peterson, "make the appointment to
have the kitten spayed or neutered a few weeks
later. Don’t wait and put it off."
Early sterilization. Besides preventing an
over-abundance of new kittens, early sterilization has other advantages. "It reduces the likelihood that male cats will spray to mark
their territory," Peterson notes, "and helps
prevent cancer of the reproductive
organs."
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