Tag: abilene tx

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Wildflowers of Texas

Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia Squarrosa)

A Short-Lived Perennial Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia Squarrosa) pushes out of the ground near the end of July and comes in to bloom mid August.

by: Bee For Life Foundation

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Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia Squarrosa)
Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia Squarrosa)

Preferring dry, disturbed and overgrazed pastures, Curlycup gumweed will take advantage of barren and moist areas as well.

Forming pure stands in waste places, depleted rangelands along roadsides and railroad tracts. Thriving in drought conditions from seaside to 8,ooo feet in elevation.

Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia Squarrosa)
Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia Squarrosa)

Curlycup Gumweed is unpalatable to livestock due to the high amounts of tannins, resin and volatile oils. Yet, this weed / wildflower provides many benefits for both Humans and Insects.

Marking the start of our Fall nectar flow Curlycup Gumweed provides protein and carbohydrates which is needed by all bees to stay strong through Winter. Curlycup’s gummy resin is full of anti-microbial Turpenes used by Honey bees to create Propolis.

Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia Squarrosa)
Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia Squarrosa)

Human health benefits of Grindelia Squarrosa

Educational information, always consult your Doctor before using Gumweed!

American Indians would collect the leaves and flowering heads, these would be dried and made into a strong tea. This tea was used for many types of Lung problems.

Gumweed protects the Lungs and is an expectorant helping to clear the lungs of infections. It is also known the the medical community for it’s ability to relieve asthma while reducing swelling of the lungs.

Curlycup gumweed resin was also used to treat raw skin and saddle sores by Native American Indians.

Curlycup gumweed was known for it’s health benefits by early American settlers and is still being study by many Universities in North America.

Such a wonderful weed that can be used for health and healing by both Insect and Human. The next time you see it, get you some of the flower heads just in case COVID- 19 shows it’s ugly head.

Categories
Planting For Pollinators

Crepe Myrtles For Bees

One of our most liked summer flowering tree is the Crepe Myrtle. Looking  to incorporate Crepe Myrtles For Bees in your landscape?

Crepe Myrtles For Bees
Crepe Myrtles For Bees

Lagerstroemia, named after Magnus von Lagerström. Better known as the Crepe Myrtle, a beautiful summertime bloomer that attracts many pollinators. In the South this tree provides nectar and pollen at a time when nothing else is in bloom.

We call this the Summer Dearth (a scarcity). Many insect pollinators would starve this time of year without flowering plants or gas station trashcans.

Crepe Myrtles For Bees

One way a non beekeeper can recognize a dearth is when hundreds of honey bees converge on gas station and home trashcans. Pollinators are looking for simple carbs and there are no plants blooming.

Anyway, Crepe Myrtles bloom from early summer to the first frost which fills the nectar gap in our local plant species. A great choice for anyone wanting a pollinator landscape.

Crepe Myrtles For Bees
Crepe Myrtles For Bees

Not a native plant to America, Crepe Myrtle are native to parts of Oceania, northern Australia, southeast Asia and India. Found in Southern United State in municipalities landscapes.

Crepe Myrtles come in many different colors and are tolerant of most soil types. Crape Myrtles prefer full sunlight, but can handle some shade.

Crepe Myrtles For Bees

Although Crepe Myrtles are champions of the South’s brutal summers, The great Texas freeze killed quite a few exposed trees. Including Crepe Myrtles.

There is a lot of misinformation on the net about bees only working the White Crepe Myrtle. Simply not true, I have personally seen all sorts of bees sucking the flowers dry on all colors of Crepe Myrtles.

Any Questions you may have please use our contact page. Also, check out our purpose statement

Image by huey3800 from Pixabay

Quick tips for Crepe Myrtle care. They don’t need much, just some fish emulsion once a month. that’ll get em growing fast. Also, cut the suckers off. To continue the bloom just cut the seed heads off.

Categories
Pollinator News 2022

Monarch Butterfly Bounce Back

From the brink of disaster, the Monarch Butterfly Bounce Back.

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Monarch Butterfly Bounce Back
Monarch Butterfly Bounce Back

In the 1990 the U.S. fish and wildlife service stated nearly a billon Monarch Butterflies disappeared from their overwintering areas. Scientists also recorded decreasing winter populations.

These Scientists alarmed by the data, warned of a massive Monarch die off. Yet, recent studies have shown otherwise and even the Monarchs stable summer populations for the last 25 years.

Monarch Butterfly Bounce Back
Monarch Butterfly Bounce Back

A major help is our landscape, Monarch habitat is akin to the area’s in which humans live. Planting your landscape with the pollinators in mind goes a long way.

In fact some areas of the United States host Monarch Butterflies year round. Monarchs do not necessarily have to migrate to Mexico.

Simply planting Milkweed in your landscape will provide the perfect place for the Monarch to lay her eggs. Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on Milkweed leaves.

Warning, those guys that come around spraying your landscape for mosquitos are poisoning not only honey bees but the Monarch also. I’ll probably get some flak for that statement, but OH WELL!

Monarch Butterflies nectar on all sorts of flowers. Therefore almost any summer flowering  plant will feed the Monarch. Yet, Milkweed is the only plant that the Monarch will lay her eggs on, so keeping Milkweed in your landscape ensures Monarchs will continue to come to your house.

If you need more info about Milkweed or what types to buy get ahold of us. Bee For Life Foundation is a 501c3 and as soon as we get the donate page up you can make your Tax deductible charitable donation to help us with our mission.

 

Categories
Pollinator News 2022

Native Pollinator Decline Causes

Latest in pollinator declines Native Pollinator Decline Causes by Bee For Life Foundation

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It’s all over the news, if you’re paying attention, native and invasive bees are dying out. California courts ruled to protect four native bee species to try to curb their declines.

Seven other native bees were added to Endangered species list. The Anthricinan yellow-faced bee along with six other Hawaiian Hylaeus species.

Native Pollinator Decline Causes
Hylaeus spp. Photo by Steve Buchanan

Another native bee species on the United States Endangered Species List is the Rusty Patched Bumblebee. But why are these native bee and Honey Bee populations tumbling?

Urbanization of our rural areas, mono culture farming, and climate change are all part of the declines. Yet, in my opinion it’s the all out attack against the mosquito.

Native Pollinator Decline Causes
Native Pollinator Decline Causes

Yep, the Mosquito has struck fear in the hearts of Americans. So much that we are willing to wipe out all pollinators so we can hang out in our backyards at dusk.

Mosquitos are pollinators, both male and female. Only the female feeds on blood when she is ready to lay eggs. Which by the way, are dropped into water by the thousands, of which fish eat most.

Native Pollinator Decline Causes
Native Pollinator Decline Causes

What pest control does not know, or maybe they do, is that the spray they use is formulated to attract pollinators, all of them.

Essential oils used to con the mosquitos to the poison also calls other flying pollinators to their deaths. Yes, I’m speaking about those dudes that spray peoples yards and open flowers with permethrin

Permethrin means certain death to all insects that touch it.

Help us protect all pollinators!