Page 9 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - December '19

Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens, Page 9
Encouraging Wildlife Into Your Backyard Topic

Of PBGGC November Meeting

The Palm Beach Gardens Garden Club (PBGGC) invited member with a holiday party. The next meeting will be on Jan.
Laurie Albrecht, extension agent of environmental horticulture 8, 2020 in the Gardens Branch Library on Campus Drive in
in the Palm Beach County Extension Office, to speak at its Palm Beach Gardens at 7 p.m. The public is welcome to attend
Nov. 6 meeting held at the Gardens Branch Library. Choosing and see the PowerPoint presentation on his favorite plants by
a subject that she is passionate about, Albrecht shared a member Michael Pusin.
PowerPoint slide show about encouraging wildlife to our The Palm Beach Gardens Garden Club is a member of
backyards and porches. District X. PBGGC is also under the umbrella of the Florida
Most of the slides were about birds and butterflies that either Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC) and the National Garden
fly through our region or live here permanently. Suggestions Clubs. In addition it belongs to Mounts Botanical Gardens.
were made about the plants that grow in our yards for them While monthly meetings are ways of educating its members As tempting as it looks, this Brazilian pepper plant has killed
to live in, hide behind, or nourish themselves from, but the and socializing, the club uses its raised money through dues and many birds that have eaten its berries.
greatest reason for planting the correct landscape is to be able fundraising to donate money for scholarships such as FFGC’s
to sit and watch the wildlife that visits outside your home. They scholarship fund and the FFGC’s Wekiva Camp.
can entertain your pets, too, when you’re not there. The garden club is open to anyone wanting to learn more
The important link that Albrecht made was for native about gardening, the environment, helpful insects, flower
landscaping and wildlife. It is proven that wildlife survives arranging, etc. The topics always change but are subjects that
better around native plants because this vegetation protects encourage a mixture of interests and discussions. Meetings
our vital ecosystem, and its diversity supports both residential are the first Wednesday of the month through May, and all are
animals and seasonal visitors including the pollinators. Even welcome to attend. Please contact Carol Davis, president, by
dead trees called snags provide cover for nesting and foraging. email: carolhd48@gmail.com or by phone: (561) 319-0981 for
They depend on each other for survival. more information.
The circle of life includes the pollinators who help the plants A photo by speaker Laurie Albrecht explains the importance
but may also be part of the 25 percent of insects that birds eat. of native plants for local wildlife.
There are good snakes that eat the birds, and larger birds that
eat the snakes. Without a healthy native plant environment the
circle stops. Passion flowers, fogfruit, goldenrod, eupatorium,
and firebush and native plants can be purchased at specialty
nurseries. Invasive or nonnative plants may have negative effects
on birds and butterflies.
Another suggestion to attract wildlife into your yard was to
provide birdbaths or birdhouses. However, they must be kept
clean to prevent mold and in a safe location from predators such
as cats, so at least 10 feet from low shrubs or predator cover.
Coral honeysuckle, coral bean, and other plants will bring
hummingbirds, when grown, near windows for viewing.
Resources for making your property “wildlife friendly”
starts with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: birds.cornell.edu or
auduboneverglades.org, and books by authors like Dr. George Laurie Albrecht answers questions after her discussion on Jane Turner, Sharon and Michael Pusin, and Jan Warshaurer
Rogers from Palm Beach State College. “Bringing Wildlife Into Your Backyard” at the November listen to speaker Laurie Albrecht talk about safe environments
In December the club will be celebrating at the home of a PBGGC meeting. for birds and butterflies.