Now that November has arrived, we're pretty confident we won't be
seeing any more Ruby-throated Hummingbirds around these parts, so
it's time for our annual summary of this year's hummingbird field
season. To learn how many hummers we banded (a lot) and how many
returned from previous years (quite a few), please visit our 22-31
October 2008 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" at
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek081022.html

Along with the photo essay is our usual list of birds banded and
recaptured during the period.

By the way, there are a still few slots left for Week Two of our
annual Costa Rica hummingbird expeditions. If you miss your hummers
during the cold . . . dark . . . wet North American winter, we'll let
you gently hold and release some under a warm tropical sun in
February! See the link from our current photo essay if you're
interested. :-)

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL
--

EDUCATION PROGRAM
BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
education@..., (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845

The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to
conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of
the Piedmont Region of the eastern United States through observation,
scientific study, and education for students of all ages. " Please
visit our Web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net) at www.hiltonpond.org
and www.rubythroat.org ("Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird
Project"). Contributions in support of our programs may be made via
PayPal or Network for Good (details on Web site).
**********

Sorry I'm late to respond to this, but I have a problem of my
neighbor's cat in my yard. I have asked them to keep it out of my
yard but it's been no use. There is a leash law here and the cat is
not supposed to be running around outside anyway - I am not going to
call the city on them though.  At one point I cleaned out my garage
and found all kinds of bird feathers in the garage - he was killing
the birds at my feeder I suspect and going in there to eat them.

Anyway, I got a ultrasonic cat repeller and it really does work.  I
can't have them everywhere, so I have aimed it at the birdfeeder and
birdbath so the birds have a safe place to eat and drink. It really
does work! I was sort of surprised, but I haven't seen a cat anywhere
near my birdfeeder since I've put it in there and I used to see one
or two a day when I'd be sitting there watching the feeder. I put
another one in my yard near my garage so it doesn't go into my garage
anymore.  I am annoyed that I have to do this, and he still sits in
my front yard, but I can't put them everywhere.  As I said, at least
there is one safe place for the birds to eat and drink.  I feel in
the native plants at least the birds have a place to hide and get
away.  (though I guess the cat does too). At least he can't jump out
and get them while they are eating or drinking.  The few recent times
I've seen cats in my yard I've gone out and found out the power got
disconnected for some reason.

Unfortunately they've discontinued the model I have - it's motion
detected and plugs in - the other ones I've found are battery powered
and run out of batteries quicker.  They can't hear it unless it's
it's pointed at them, and they don't hear it unless they come in my
yard near the feeder - it doesn't bother them if they are in their
own yard.  Catstop is the one that is battery powered and still for sale.

Actually it looks like they have a new electric one also now
here  http://www.safepetproducts.com

Kind of pricey, but they really do work (though I hear sometimes not
as well with elderly cat's who may have not as good hearing)  Other
than that - I don't know what to do if people won't keep their cats
inside.  I wouldn't dream of letting my dog run around in my
neighbor's yard - I don't understand why it should be different for a
cat, but apparently so. I don't dislike cats - I just don't like them
killing my birds at my feeders.  The one I have - you set it for the
frequency of animal you want to keep away, so it doesn't disturb my
dog or the squirrels or birds.

Meg

At 09:50 PM 10/30/2008, you wrote:

>Lately I've seen lots of birds visiting my bird feeders. One day
>after work, I went out to check/fill them, and discovered a lot of
>Bluejay feathers strewn about. I suspect a local pet cat on the
>loose, must have struck- probably with fatal results for the bird.

email@...

Hey!  Lately, in my lower working class neighborhood, I see many
working on their annual rituals of leaf raking.  I realize that most
suburbanites have fallen into the status quo thinking that they MUST
stagger out of their houses into the cool, clean autumn air, (just
after halloween, like a hoard of zombies) and grab up their rakes,
and, more recently, often an engine powered leaf blower, and round up
every stray leaf that is swirling around their house.  Then, they
proceed to ignite these leaf piles, and smoke out each neighbor
downwind of them.
Instead of raking and burning, these leaves would serve as an
excellent mulch by merely piling them in on top of the flower beds,
and around each of the trees and shrubs.  The critical thing to keep
in mind about all of those fallen leaves is that there are many
caterpillars that overwinter by rolling themselves up in a leafy
blanket, and then fall to the ground and await the warmth of spring.
If you burn or trample your leaves, you're likely killing a multitude
of beneficial insects, that would be better able to fulfill their role
in the natural food chain, if they were left alone/undisturbed/treated
gently, until spring time.
If you haven't yet read Douglas Tallamy's brilliant book titled
"Bringing Nature Home", by Timber Press, 2007. please get a copy and
do so ASAP!  It's full of fascinating insights into the vital roles that
Native plants and insects play in the ecosystem.  After reading the
first three chapters you'll be changed forever- converted into a real
"Wild-One"!!! (-no more zombie living!)
If you're going to expand your native plantings into larger, or other
areas, then perhaps you could pile a very thick layer of old leaves on
top of that area (of lawn I presume), and smother the non-native
species, and just wait until mid to late spring to plant anew.  These
leaves could easily be used to smother out lots of non-natives like
"garlic mustard", or "creeping charlie".  Perhaps, if you live in an
area with nearby wetlands or water sources, your leaves might be
beneficial in creating a better habitat for rare species of
amphibians/salamanders, or fungi, or who knows what might show up- if
you can create something other than the typical suburban monoculture
of lawn grass!  I've walked through woodlands where lots of leaves
fall every year, and yet no one ever rakes any of them.  Yet, look
closely at the diversity of nature that thrives in that sort of leafy,
rich woodland habitat,( the soil there is always wonderfully soft,
rich and smells great)!
I've seen wrens, and other birds, feeding in the leafy wastes- they
look closely to find those hidden caterpillars that made it through
the winter!
The caterpillars, wrens, toads, and we, all, benefit by NOT burning or
trucking off our leaves!
You can easily save yourself from a sore back, and perhaps even a
heart attack! - just say "no more raking"!  Feel the power to resist!
So, turn over a new leaf, by NOT turning over any old ones! Don't rake
and burn them!; just sweep them off of the walkways, and gently pile
them as mulch around your trees and shrubs. Give Nature a chance to
revert to it's natural systems-instead of worrying about what your
misguided,(zombie) neighbors might think.  If anything, perhaps you
can help to free them, too, by demonstrating that there is another
alternative to living like a zombie, groaning, staggering around in
the smoke and flames,
and smelling of smoke!

[If anyone can suggest any other books similar to "Bringing Nature
Home" - that is Highly worth reading, please recommend it so that we
all might learn more and have some back-up references in case we need
to educate others about why we are trying such "Wild" ideas.]

Hey!, Just a quick comment here- You might well have to follow some
very strict rules to be able to properly, and safely use any sort of
traps; live traps are still a trap, and you probably ought to get a
hold of your State's hunting and trapping rules, and the req'd
license, and even then, it may
not be permissible, or advisable to set any traps.  Whatever you trap
may be injured or killed in the process. so be sure you are ready to
deal with the consequences or even the most unlikely of possibilities.
  Be sure that you do it legally- so that you ARE NOT GOING TO WIND UP
ARRESTED WITH A HUGE FINE, JAIL TIME, OR LOSS OF PROPERTY/VEHICLES,
ETC.!!!!!
I know that the DNR in WI is very powerful when they catch "violators"
they CAN AND WILL confiscate virtually anything that they can- and
hold it as
evidence/? until it can be settled in a courtroom!!!!!
"YOW"!!!
I absolutely can't recommend any sort of poison either!!!- that's even
more
indiscriminate that trapping!!!!!!!!!- and it might well lead to
killing or injuring
everything BUT your intended target animal(stray/feral cat)
Always expect the worst to happen - because it might!!!
Assume that the cat IS a pet if it is collared, but perhaps it could
be feral if it isn't, and you certainly can get/remove the specific
offending animal with a good pellet gun.  Check with the DNR regarding
feral cat removal/shooting/etc.
Otherwise, call your local Animal Control Dept., and let them earn
their tax dollars by trapping the cat for you.  If it has an owner,
they still may have a chance to rescue their pet, and may learn to
"KEEP IT IN THE HOUSE"
  GOOD LUCK!!!!


--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "Tori Graham"
<torigraham@...> wrote:
>
> Trapping is a very reasonable thing to do.  You can always release the
> native animals in place and send the non-natives to the police.  We were
> able to simply catch one cat that came to hunt in our small prairie
5-6 hrs.
> daily.  As the police officer said when he came to take the cat
away, "Your
> yard must have been the best place around."  Yes, it was/is.
>
>
>
> We have also captured opossums in traps around our home just to find out
> what they were.  We had been smelling their scent for years!  Once
we knew,
> we were satisfied, and released them.  They are still happily making
their
> home here.  It didn't hurt them.
>
>
>
> Tori
>
>
>
> From: wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Benia
> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 11:35 AM
> To: wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [Wild Ones] House cats.....
>
>
>
> There is a cat that frequent our yard and seems to have made it his
daytime
> home.  I hate that we frequently find it settled into nooks and
crannies of
> our yard when we go out there and walk around.  It is quickly
startled out
> of the yard, but it's there a lot.  There is a family of cats that
was born
> in our yard a couple years back and they return to our backyard
sometimes as
> well.
>
>
>
> Stray/feral cats are probably the last things still ruining our "Native
> Suburbia" landscape (along with the never-ending noise pollution of
> neighborhood lawn mowers).  We haven't taken action against to
capture these
> cats because we don't want to risk trapping the other, welcome animal
> visitors, like opossums and racoons.
>
>
>
> What is the most effective way to put a dent in the outdoor housecat
> population problem?
>
>
>
> Benia
>
> Bartlett, IL
>
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: guloguloguy <guysmith99@...>
> To: wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 10:50:07 PM
> Subject: [Wild Ones] House sparrows, and House cats.....
>
> I'm not too focused yet: Here's a few random thoughts that might give
> you some food for thought. Please contribute your's sometimes. We
> all benefit when we consider other ideas, and new perspectives:
> Re: stray cats:
> Lately I've seen lots of birds visiting my bird feeders. One day
> after work, I went out to check/fill them, and discovered a lot of
> Bluejay feathers strewn about. I suspect a local pet cat on the
> loose, must have struck- probably with fatal results for the bird.
> Dang it all! I really wouldn't mind at all if it were a starling, or
> house sparrow, (both alien species that do not belong here in North
> America). I'd rather see people take a bit of time to consider the
> impact of letting their pet cats go outdoors- freely hunting, and
> killing many Native songbirds. I'd prefer to have the cats indoors,
> and selectively dispatch the alien birds with an accurately placed
> projectile, (pellet gun). [It's a "Dirty business", but somebody's
> got to do it!]
> If Native birds continue to be wiped out by stray cats, perhaps
> the cats would need similar treatment.
> Note: I love cats!-[(especially the Wild/Native ones!)]
> I have a rescued one (house cat) for a pet, myself- but I have to
> keep him indoors at all times, except if I (rarely) put him on a
> harness and leash, and go for a brief walkabout in the backyard. He
> loves going out!, but I'd never let him out loose/unsupervised! ; too
> many dangers! (When I first picked him as a stray/lost cat, he was
> running free, on a large industrial site, and he had a broken leg,
> (right rear), and was slowly starving,-he was very thin, and no one
> else on the job wanted anything to do with him. After two weeks of
> hanging around our breakroom- in an out-building, (former livestock
> pen/yard), getting occasional food scraps from charitable pipefitters,
> and electricians, I brought in a pet-taxi/cage, and after work, I
> lured him into the cage with a few treats and brought him home to my
> house; I now had a new friend to start the new year- (it was New
> Years Eve); after some veterinary care, and recuperation, he's been a
> great buddy for the last couple of years! I'd hate to see him get
> lost again, or hit by a car, or hurt by some other means. So I keep
> him indoors!- and he anxiously watches for any squirrels, birds,
> rabbits, and other cats that occasionally/ daily walk through my
> yard-(my ever natural habitat of grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees,
> with a menagerie of insects, and other animals!) The Native landscape
> is a super playground/magnet for cats(!!!)- while they're hunting
> birds and mice, chipmunks, etc. He's eager to watch them, and the
> night time visits of raccoons, opossums, perhaps a fox or coyote, too!
> The 'coons are twice his size and would easily be able to hurt/kill,
> and eat him if the were hungry enough- as I'm sure they would be by
> mid winter!
> Rarely do you see a stray dog anymore- but cat owners haven't caught
> on to this important idea!
> So!, Please!; Keep your cats indoors!! at all times!!!, and create a
> safer, as well as more natural "Native" habitat outdoors for our
> Native species- They deserve our respect, and their own place to do
> their thing- carrying on their life-cycles relatively free from human
> induced pressures on their populations. I'd much rather see wild
> bobcats running around out there- not the domesticated house cats!
> They're "HOUSE-cats" , so keep them IN THE HOUSE!
>

A pellet gun?  I may not want cats in my yard but I would certainly
not shoot them (though I'm not the original poster).  Surely that
wouldn't be legal (or ethical).  Call animal control please before
you shoot the cat.

Meg


>Assume that the cat IS a pet if it is collared, but perhaps it could
>be feral if it isn't, and you certainly can get/remove the specific
>offending animal with a good pellet gun. Check with the DNR regarding
>feral cat removal/shooting/etc.
>Otherwise, call your local Animal Control Dept., and let them earn
>their tax dollars by trapping the cat for you. If it has an owner,
>they still may have a chance to rescue their pet, and may learn to
>"KEEP IT IN THE HOUSE"
>GOOD LUCK!!!!

email@...

Hey!  I google searched the IL DNR website to find out what they
listed as Threatened/Endangered Species.  DO THIS and you'll likely be
appalled at the number of species that are in jeopardy, NOW!
perhaps this link might save you a minute:

      http://www.dnr.state.il.us/espb

You can look up the particular county that you'd like to, and see all
of the currently listed threatened and endangered species.  I think
that for mine, Winnebago, it lists about 50 plants, not to mention the
other species; reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, birds, mammals, etc.
This is why I am so interested in converting my own little piece of
hell into a bit better habitat for any of these critters!- to try to
give them another toehold on this flat, and "scorched" earth.
Some of the plant species listed have been offered to wild ones
members, (and other gardeners) through our annual "Wild-Ones" plant
sales, and area nurseries that sell Native plant species.
BRAVO!!!  WELL DONE, (& LETS KEEP IT GOING!!!)
again to all of those who have endeavored to coordinate, and expedite
the "Wild One's" plant sales, and to the Nurserymen that provide these
vital resources!

I suspect that many people go through their lives gritting their teeth
and cursing the Government for not doing Much more to expand the
public's Parks and other services; to make things better, blah blah,
blah...
Well, this is America, not England- we are "privately-owned", and
don't have a King that can make such decrees!  So, (without angering
anyone too much), I point this out so that you might better spend your
remaining days here, on this green earth, trying to improve whatever
little
piece of it that you might own! [Rather than waiting for the
government bureaucrats to come to their senses!].  I think you'll get
a lot more bang for your buck if YOU SPEND YOUR OWN HARD EARNED
dollars, (and not squander someone else's tax dollars); and DO YOUR
OWN yard work,
(rather than waiting for a municipal/state vehicle to show up out of
the blue)!  In short;
... YOU HAVE THE POWER; TO CHANGE; CUSTOMIZE, AND IMPROVE YOU'RE
LITTLE CORNER
OF THE WORLD! - LIKE NOBODY ELSE CAN!!!
MAKE YOUR OWN PROPERTY INTO YOUR OWN WILDERNESS PARK!!!
YOU can do the bookwork- study what used to live there, and do the
groundwork
- to find out what you have,
... then find out what you can get, to put back, to improve the
habitats, back towards the integrity and quality of what it ought to be!!
Get rid of those Alien species at every opportunity!  Find the higher
valued Natives that could replace those Aliens.
[just so you know; an alien plant species might just as well be made
out of plastic for all the good it does any other living Native
creatures!-Native insects cant eat it, and so they die, and soon
along with them, all of the birds, and reptiles, and amphibians that
depend upon them for their next meal!]

[Instead of having to pack your bags and travel for hours, to some
remote corner of the country , just to get a taste of something close
to real 'wilderness", CREATE YOUR OWN! -so that it's there for you to
enjoy every day, summer, through winter, rain or shine!!!!
Create YOUR OWN Micro-wilderness, at home- YOUR YARD eventually linked
to each other neighbor's, all the way to the Yukon, and the Amazon!!!!]

I look at my trees and shrubs now and I'm honestly EXCITED!!!!.. to see
evidence of Insect "damage"/feeding upon them!!!!  YEAH BABY!! go to
it!! and feed those birds, bats, snakes, and toads! I hope for plagues
of locusts!!! (well, within reason- a small plague would be fine!!!)
Unless we CHANGE our old ways, (neat tidy (dead)lawns, and clipped
hedges), and learn to provide better habitats,
more diverse foods, and shelter to our fellow locally-Native plant
and animal
species, then someday we might find our name on the LIST...
of THREATENED and ENDANGERED SPECIES!
--------------
Let your love of Nature light a fire in your heart- and burn as bright
and hot as a rolling Prairie fire!
Spring is coming,...so
HIT THE BOOKS!!!!

Thanks, Guy, for your reply to my post. Be assured that i understand
that native plants are doing what comes naturally to them when they
reseed themselves everywhere and spread by roots into the paths and
lawn. I also do give away many native plants. the past 2 years in the
spring and fall I've dug up and repotted a ton of the arboretum's
native plant "volunteers" and given them away for free at our
community plant swap, organized by ToledoGrows ( a community gardening
group who focuses mostly on food gardens and also now chickens, and
goats in community plots). My plants always are very popular and every
time I strive my best to provide interesting collections of plants so
someone can take home an instant mini rain garden or butterfly garden.
I even have color photos and descriptions of the plants so people will
know what they are getting- at first it seemed no one was familiar
with natives but now I'm finding lots of people asking for certain
species and i can tell lots of people out there are doing their
homework!It helps that this ToledoGrows organization has had great
native and raingarden programs/speeches/workshops. In addition, I am
planning on sharing my plants at wildones meetings this summer. I did
that a couple times and it was appreciated. There are some places
around the arboretum which i would like to expand my native plantings
to. I am always pressed for time though with three little boys to care
for.I do what i can and get great enjoyment out of it as i know the
wildlife does as well. I think i was mostly interested in finding
non-aggressive natives for people who are just getting into natives.
(seeker sensitive I guess is the word)Plants that won't turn people
off to natives but will be a good introduction. a plant that they
could incorporate into their tidy landscape that would look awesome,
attract wildlife, smell great, but not make them want to tear their
hair out! maybe that will just fool them as to the true aggressive
nature of natives though.

anyhow, thanks for you thoughts. i always enjoy your posts. you always
sound like my dad. maybe i just detect that you are very passionate
about natives!
  by the way, i am adding a few pics of my natives at the arboretum to
my album in the photos section. Enjoy!
Heather

Folks, We are burning firewood now and I wondered if there is any use
for the ashes? I think my mom used to put them on the garden. I read
that they should not be placed in already acidic soil. I think ours is
acidic so I am not sure what to do with them. Thanks, Teri

I have neighborhood and stray cats too.  I have found, during warm
weather, that spraying them with a water hose helps to train them to
stay away.  I feed birds so they come around alot.  Our city has a
leash law that requires they be kept inside so there usually are very
few of them unless people let them run.  There are a couple that have
been running loose recedntly.  We have had a problem of people
abandoning them too because of the economy.  The good news is that
the Humane Society has had a great response to their plea for
rescuers.  I would set a cat trap and give them to a no kill shelter,
if you have one.
   If they belong to neighbors, talk with them and provide information
about the advantages of keeping them indoors.  It not only protects
wildlife, it prolongs the cat's life as well.  Outdoor cats only live
around 5 years, indoor ones can live 15 or more.  Our first cat lived
17 and 1/2 years.  We now have an 8 yr old one.
  I had a young one that lived in our garage last winter.  By spring,
it was injured and starving so I fed it and nursed it back to health
nutritionally, but it was ferrel and never alowed me near it.  I wish
now I had trapped it because I suspect a neighbor killed it.  It
disappeared in June after the neighbor complained about it using her
shrubs as a litter box.  Just a thought, Teri in KY

Our animal control, humane society and the Shamrock Foundation all
provide cat traps and they will respond if you catch something else.

Terri,
Wood ashes are alkaline. You might want to add it to your soil if you want to  increase the alkalinity (reduce the acidity) of your soil. Wood ashes also improve the potassium supply.

So, if there is a place where you want to reduce the acidity of your soil, go ahead and add the ashes. Before you do, I would recommend testing your soil pH so you are sure what it needs. It's best not to guess.

Janis


Wood Ashes

Posted by: "Teri West" AWAA1134@...   awaa1134

Sun Nov 30, 2008 8:41 pm (PST)

Hey!,  I just checked/searched google for some info on the book "Flora
of Illinois", by Mohlenbrock, by Southern Illinois University Press,
and I found a website of interest;, perhaps some of you will too!
Go to :
       http://www.botany.org
I hope I can paste a bit of their posted reference list here, on
Illinois references:(Here it is):
----------
ILLINOIS REFERENCES

Suggested Web-links

Center for Plant Conservation - http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/
Chicago Botanic Garden – http://www.chicago-botanic.org/
Chicago Wilderness - http://www.chicagowilderness.org/index.cfm
Field Museum - http://www.fieldmuseum.org/
Forest Preserve District of Cook County: http://www.fpdcc.com/
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: http://www.dupageforest.com/
Forest Preserve District of Lake County: http://www.lcfpd.org/
Forest Preserve District of Will County: http://www.fpdwc.org/index.cfm
Forest Preserve District of Kane County: http://www.co.kane.il.us/Forest/
Grand Prairie Friends - http://www.prairienet.org/gpf/homepage.html
John Hilty's Website of Illinois Wildflowers
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/
Illinois Department of Natural Resources - http://dnr.state.il.us/
Illinois Native Plant Society – http://www.ill-inps.org/index.htm
Illinois Natural History Survey – http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/
Illinois Plant Information Network -
http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/ilpin/ilpin.html
Illinois State Museum - http://www.museum.state.il.us/
Lake in The Hills Fen Nature Preserve: http://www.lithfen.org/
McHenry County Conservation District: http://www.mccdistrict.org/
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - http://www.fs.fed.us/mntp/
Midwest Invasive Plant Network - http://www.mipn.org/
Nature Serve - http://www.natureserve.org/
Save the Prairie Society - http://savetheprairiesociety.org/
Shawnee National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee/
The Morton Arboretum – http://www.mortonarb.org/
The Nature Conservancy -
http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/
The Tallgrass Prairie - http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/tallgrass.html
Plant Conservation Alliance - http://www.nps.gov/plants/
Prairie Source - http://www.prairiesource.com/index.htm
VPlants: a virtual herbarium - http://www.vplants.org/
Wild Ones - http://www.for-wild.org/
------------
Notice "Wild Ones" is the last one on this list!
I love it when I find new sources of info / websites/ organizations to
network with/ use as further references!
AWESOME!

Please dig in and report back to us "Wild Ones" discussion group with
any useful/vital info.

Thanks!

Over the weekend we got our first substantial snowfall, here in
Northern Illinois.  While the snow fell, I was busy looking through a
book on "Sedges of Wisconsin", by Dr. Andrew Hipp.  It's very
thorough on the technical details of identification, and descriptions
of the 157(or so), Native Sedge species that may be found throughout
the state of
Wisconsin.
It's a very useful and interesting book!!!- check it out!
Sedges are very important- (as are rushes, and grasses)- they are
often a "key-indicator species"- which help to closely/properly
identify specific types of habitat; which are often particular to
other unique/rare species of plants and animals!!!

I was very interested in the "Distribution Maps" that are found in the
back of the book!-  For each species, a small map of the entire state
(WI), is shown, with
the county borders, and major rivers outlined; and a series if dots
are shown, scattered across the
maps; showing the extent of the known locations of each species!  Many
are quite widely distributed, and many are not!!!

I grabbed my trusty highlighters, and then highlighted each
species that seemed likely to be located in the counties nearby, or
adjacent to mine, (Winnebago county- located in north central
Illinois, with the Rock River, Pecatonica, and Sugar River(s), too,
all flowing through it, coming out of lower Wisconsin.)  Then I looked
op each one
and found out if the particular species was likely to be found in
wetland, messic, upland, (&sunny, or shady) conditions.  Then, I noted
the page
number for each's habitat preference next to each specie's
distribution map.
[I identified each with a different colored highlighter- blue for very
wet,green for wooded/wet messic, yellow for messic, orange for dryer
loc.s, and red for very dry upland types.  It makes it much easier to
thumb thru the maps, and find the species that might be "likely" to
grow in the remaining wild spaces
near my house/local area; and, to find the ones that prefer wet, dry
or in-between/messic habitat conditions.
It's tedious to do this!, but it
makes going back to the "Distribution Maps" much easier/ more user
friendly -when checking for the names of the "locally Native"/
suitable species!!!

If YOU do likewise, for Your county, (highlight the species found in
Your county, and the adjacent counties), You'll get an opportunity to
get more familiar with the particular species, their descriptions, and
their local distribution, and habitat preferences.  Then, you can
start making a
customized/personal list of Those species that are worthy of searching
out,
from local/regional plant nurseries, and gardening/seed sources.  You
could copy Your list and share it with others, and even give/send
copies to your local seed & plant sources, and ask them to consider
stocking/propagating
these particular species for their other customers- that live in your
area!
That will help everyone that is looking for Their Locally Native/suitable
species" that they can likely/successfully (re)/introduce into their
property.
A little effort or our part, will thereby help a lot of people who
don't otherwise know how to do this simple research, and find out What
Is Locally Native to Our Localities/Counties.
I hope I'm not the only one that spends their weekends doing this sort
of thing!
Well,... now you know, I AM a "Wild One", indeed!
I hope others are too!

Where are you now!? sitting around comfortably, at home, in your safe
secure SHELTER!!!!  Every critter needs a few basics in order to
survive- Air, Water, Food, SHELTER, Companions.  Without a good amount
of each of these, (that is; plenty of each nearby, or within easy
traveling distance, or within easy reach), life becomes intolerable,
or worse!.
We as gardeners try to
provide/do, what we can, for our Native inhabitants (of our
properties) - at
least, I hope we try to Think about these things- all year around!
Many "migratory" species move out during the colder months, but there
are a lots of them, (Non-migratory) that don't/can't, and they MUST be
able to FIND a suitable
SHELTER; with just the right conditions-  and it must be safe, stable,
and secure,
enough to SHELTER them from the brutal realities of cold winter
weather. If you haven't thought about it, then consider leaving piles
of leaves, logs, large tree trunks, and limbs, brush piles, and such,
for insects and small animals to hide in and under.  We should try to
create places, (SHELTERS!), where multiple species can co-exist- such
as creating a log, or rock pile where rodents might burrow under-
because it's safe and secure for them.  Perhaps some snakes will also
find and crawl into that same burrow- and stay down below the
frost-line all winter! -think:"AAAAHHHH,...SHELTER"!!!!)
I've recently been out cutting up some old tree limbs - (remnants of
some now eliminated alien species!).  I was amazed at how many small
insects seemed attracted to my wood pile, and the temporary brush-pile
of dissected tree limbs.  I found that a lot of things, (critters),
hide and thrive
in the compost pile; and in the thick leaf mulch that I leave wherever
I can.  Life goes on, under the snows- all winter long!!!
I love to look across the freshly fallen snow- into my ever more
intricate landscape of twigs, shrubs, rocks, logs, leaves, tree
trunks, berms, and rain gardens, and see the variety of animal tracks
that appear over night, or, after a day at work: by days end.
I've been contemplating trying to
build some varied types, and sizes, of bird houses- and find places to
put them.  Then, by springtime, the migrating birds may have a nice
place to nest- (a suitable "SHELTER"!!) in my
yard, until the thickets get thicker, and the grasses taller, and
shrubs denser- all forming better "SHELTERS" for our Natives!

So, cook up a big bowl of popcorn, (with some hot coffee, or cocoa, or
adult beverage), sit by the window, perhaps with a
small fire in the fireplace, (if you've got one; burning bits of dead
aliens I hope!!!), and watch out the window as the tracks are being
made- to, and from "SHELTERS"!!!!!
Now, you can of course crank up some music-
Perhaps,....(may I suggest)
the "Beatles"!

Enjoy!

Hey! I know there's quite a few people who glance through these
postings, looking at the subjects/topics of discussion, etc, to see if
anything interesting is going on.
Well, if your favorite topic isn't in the mix, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
  POST SOMETHING!!!!
I don't even have a computer and, yet,  it's discouraging to see that
no one's posted anything since I last got in here!
It's more fun when there's more people in the pool/lake,"Think-Tank",
So get wet!; dive in head first; do a cannonball; even a belly-flop is
alright!  Just take the plunge and Post a thought , or concern, or
question, or anything!,
A "Think-Tank" is a terrible thing to waste!!
Make the tank bigger by thinking,(posting) Deeper thoughts; Wider
viewpoints, Farther goal/ambitions & long-thoughts on subjects that
might stir up the sediment a bit, or clarify the murk! or ever Heat it
up a bit!  (
Every one Love a Hot-Tub!!!)
Do the Math!: Tank volume is Depth X Width X Length
Put on your mask and snorkel; it's amazing to see all the things that
are in here!
Check out the "profiles" of those who post things- that way you'll get
to know a bit about who you're communicating with!(click on their
"username"(highlighted blue)- (and; fill out something in Your Own
profile too - if you haven't done so yet!!!)
Just DO IT!!!

Remember:(Insert YOUR Thoughts,(POST) often!)- We ALL get Something
out of it!
It helps us stay connected, and informed!
We're trying to build a network/community of Nature Lovers here!
Participate/contribute here, there, anywhere!
Just DO IT!!!

-------------
Perhaps, I/we could start by wishing everyone a Super-Duper, Ultra-
Fantastic, Peaceful, (but Exciting!) , and Very Merry
Christmas/(Solstice/ whatever!),  and a Happy New Year!!!!
May your Natives Thrive, (and the Aliens NOT)!
[Remember to Start making your wish lists- of plants/seeds to order
and plant this spring!]
Dream Great Dreams,
Think Great Thoughts,
Do Great Deeds
GO!!!!!!!!!!

Hey!, I just got a flyer in the mail from our local Soil an Water
Conservation District, it is their Annual "Tree and Shrub Sale" list.
Looking through it, [I don't have it in hand as I type], but It looks
like they're still Oblivious as to the NEED to Plant Native Species
EXCLUSIVELY!-
in order to improve the HABITAT for other NATIVE SPECIES!
So, IGNORING the (40%, or so) NON-Native species that they list, At
least I see that they DO offer Some species that Are Locally Native to
this/my area(N.Illinois).
-(Perhaps other Soil and Water Conservation Districts do likewise in
other regions!????)- If your's does, or doesn't, it seems like a good
chance to get a lot of native plants at a LOW Price!!!)- (Just work on
getting them to ELIMINATE the ALIENS!!!!)
Since the Prices are SO LOW/AFFORDABLE!!!, I'm very tempted to consider
ordering a bunch of these, (perhaps 25, or 100, of each!!!!??), and
just take them out for a Sunday(Slow & odd hour) drive, and plant them
along some remote roadside locations that lack any conspicuous NATIVE
Trees or Shrubs- Thereby introducing some specimens into the local
landscape(s) - that currently suffers from such a condition!
Obviously, it's a bit bold(bullish/stupid/risky)- planting stuff on
the roadsides- on
other peoples/state property, etc., but in all likelihood , they're
oblivious as to what grows there anyway, (or else  they'd've already
planted
something there themselves!!(My OPINION!!!!)
Perhaps I'm just the type that enjoys thinking of this kind of
"adventure":  Dressed in Camo, truck loaded with dozens of Locally
Native Trees and Shrubs in Need of a good home/location, driving/sneaking
slowly down the distant backroads, looking for just the right spot to
jump out and dig a quick hole/s, and insert a few volunteers - (to
have them 'watch
guard' over our lonely roadsides - to become the near future habitat
corridors for struggling
migrating birds, and slithering, scurrying, small critters, and
multitudes of
tasty insects!
This IS an "ECOLOGICAL War" that WE ARE involved in!
Is anybody With me on this!!!!????
I'M READY TO JUMP!!!!
     [(and, ....I too, wish I had a "Crop-duster"!!!!)]
     ...Your Shot!....
-------------

As a Wild Ones chapter, you may be able to contact a local wholesaler
and do a group plant purchase of native plants, as we do here in SE
PA.  This would be a great way to get native plants into the hands of
those who normally wouldn't pick them up from a garden center.  It's
hard to resist plants that are so inexpensive b/c they are being
bought in bulk and while the plants are still very young, but in the
end, they make for healthier plants.

If you're up for some extra work, instead of trespassing, perhaps put
your extra efforts into educating, and a group sale would be a great
start.

If you do decide to become an eco-commando, seeds would be a lot
easier and cheaper as many don't even need to be "planted" just
scattered in order to get a good start.


--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "guloguloguy"
<guysmith99@...> wrote:
>
> Hey!, I just got a flyer in the mail from our local Soil an Water
> Conservation District, it is their Annual "Tree and Shrub Sale"
list.
> Looking through it, [I don't have it in hand as I type], but It
looks
> like they're still Oblivious as to the NEED to Plant Native Species
> EXCLUSIVELY!-
> in order to improve the HABITAT for other NATIVE SPECIES!
> So, IGNORING the (40%, or so) NON-Native species that they list, At
> least I see that they DO offer Some species that Are Locally Native
to
> this/my area(N.Illinois).
> -(Perhaps other Soil and Water Conservation Districts do likewise in
> other regions!????)- If your's does, or doesn't, it seems like a
good
> chance to get a lot of native plants at a LOW Price!!!)- (Just work
on
> getting them to ELIMINATE the ALIENS!!!!)
> Since the Prices are SO LOW/AFFORDABLE!!!, I'm very tempted to
consider
> ordering a bunch of these, (perhaps 25, or 100, of each!!!!??), and
> just take them out for a Sunday(Slow & odd hour) drive, and plant
them
> along some remote roadside locations that lack any conspicuous
NATIVE
> Trees or Shrubs- Thereby introducing some specimens into the local
> landscape(s) - that currently suffers from such a condition!
> Obviously, it's a bit bold(bullish/stupid/risky)- planting stuff on
> the roadsides- on
> other peoples/state property, etc., but in all likelihood , they're
> oblivious as to what grows there anyway, (or else  they'd've already
> planted
> something there themselves!!(My OPINION!!!!)
> Perhaps I'm just the type that enjoys thinking of this kind of
> "adventure":  Dressed in Camo, truck loaded with dozens of Locally
> Native Trees and Shrubs in Need of a good home/location,
driving/sneaking
> slowly down the distant backroads, looking for just the right spot
to
> jump out and dig a quick hole/s, and insert a few volunteers - (to
> have them 'watch
> guard' over our lonely roadsides - to become the near future habitat
> corridors for struggling
> migrating birds, and slithering, scurrying, small critters, and
> multitudes of
> tasty insects!
> This IS an "ECOLOGICAL War" that WE ARE involved in!
> Is anybody With me on this!!!!????
> I'M READY TO JUMP!!!!
>     [(and, ....I too, wish I had a "Crop-duster"!!!!)]
>     ...Your Shot!....
> -------------
>

I live in northern Illinois as well (cook county) and would love to
buy some cheap trees/shrubs. Could you please send me the link to that
sale?

thanks,
mike
--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "guloguloguy"
<guysmith99@...> wrote:
>
> Hey!, I just got a flyer in the mail from our local Soil an Water
> Conservation District, it is their Annual "Tree and Shrub Sale" list.
> Looking through it, [I don't have it in hand as I type], but It looks
> like they're still Oblivious as to the NEED to Plant Native Species
> EXCLUSIVELY!-
> in order to improve the HABITAT for other NATIVE SPECIES!
> So, IGNORING the (40%, or so) NON-Native species that they list, At
> least I see that they DO offer Some species that Are Locally Native to
> this/my area(N.Illinois).
> -(Perhaps other Soil and Water Conservation Districts do likewise in
> other regions!????)- If your's does, or doesn't, it seems like a good
> chance to get a lot of native plants at a LOW Price!!!)- (Just work on
> getting them to ELIMINATE the ALIENS!!!!)
> Since the Prices are SO LOW/AFFORDABLE!!!, I'm very tempted to consider
> ordering a bunch of these, (perhaps 25, or 100, of each!!!!??), and
> just take them out for a Sunday(Slow & odd hour) drive, and plant them
> along some remote roadside locations that lack any conspicuous NATIVE
> Trees or Shrubs- Thereby introducing some specimens into the local
> landscape(s) - that currently suffers from such a condition!
> Obviously, it's a bit bold(bullish/stupid/risky)- planting stuff on
> the roadsides- on
> other peoples/state property, etc., but in all likelihood , they're
> oblivious as to what grows there anyway, (or else  they'd've already
> planted
> something there themselves!!(My OPINION!!!!)
> Perhaps I'm just the type that enjoys thinking of this kind of
> "adventure":  Dressed in Camo, truck loaded with dozens of Locally
> Native Trees and Shrubs in Need of a good home/location,
driving/sneaking
> slowly down the distant backroads, looking for just the right spot to
> jump out and dig a quick hole/s, and insert a few volunteers - (to
> have them 'watch
> guard' over our lonely roadsides - to become the near future habitat
> corridors for struggling
> migrating birds, and slithering, scurrying, small critters, and
> multitudes of
> tasty insects!
> This IS an "ECOLOGICAL War" that WE ARE involved in!
> Is anybody With me on this!!!!????
> I'M READY TO JUMP!!!!
>     [(and, ....I too, wish I had a "Crop-duster"!!!!)]
>     ...Your Shot!....
> -------------
>

> This IS an "ECOLOGICAL War" that WE ARE involved in!
> Is anybody With me on this!!!!????
> I'M READY TO JUMP!!!!
>     [(and, ....I too, wish I had a "Crop-duster"!!!!)]
>     ...Your Shot!....
> -------------
>
I'm with you.  It is risky planting on other people's property, but if
we are judicious about selecting our sites and careful not to be
disruptive, it could be done at least on a small scale.  My church has
tried to buy an adjacent lot for years but the absentee owner refuses
to sell at a reasonable price.  Recent road construction next to this
corner property has devastated the trees that were there, so it's
pretty ugly. I am the volunteer grounds chairperson at church, and I
plan to install a windbreak on the property line after our new addition
is finished.  When I say on the property line, you know, it's sometimes
difficult to tell just where that line is, and we need some green space
to block out the traffic noise.  <G>.

--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "Kathleen Partridge"
<atelierk@...> wrote:
>
> Kudzunol! :-) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#28243281


That's really great!!  It seems that the corporations interested in
developing ethanol believe that you have to grow a monocrop and have
massive acres covered with it.  Obstacles I see to the kudzu operation
are the difficulty of harvesting mechanically.  All they showed in the
video was a man using a machete.

On the same topic, I have heard news of miscanthus grass being the
recent favorite crop for ethanol.  They like it because it's been
successful in China.  Well, duh, it's native to China!!  I'm worried
that they are going to plant acres and acres in the US and we'll have a
new invasive to contend with.  Why do they never consider natives?

Clancy
Lisle, IL

--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "guloguloguy"
<guysmith99@...> wrote:
> This IS an "ECOLOGICAL War" that WE ARE involved in!
> Is anybody With me on this!!!!????
> I'M READY TO JUMP!!!!
>     [(and, ....I too, wish I had a "Crop-duster"!!!!)]
>     ...Your Shot!....
> -------------
>
You really should read Raising Kane by Ray Fox.  His mission had to do
with pollution of the Fox River, not plants, but it's such a good read
and right up your alley.  Ray is a local hero to the environmentalists
in Northern Illinois.  His book was published posthumously in 1999 by
Kindred Spirits Press, P. O. Box 518, Montgomery, IL 60538-0518.  Maybe
you kind find it in the library.  ISBN 0-9626765-1-9.

Clancy
Lisle, IL