Hunter’s Moon Newsletter

Hi Plant People,

The Hunter’s Moon was still up this morning on what has become a truly glorious autumn. I’m hopeful that we’ll have a fall display for the records. We’re in the midst of planting at BBP and I’ve listed some seasonal reminders on the topic below. Also, a question: is it cool or presumptuous to name your email newsletter? 

Just out: a podcast interview I did with Thomas Christopher as promo for a lecture I’m giving at the Berkshire Botanical Garden next month. Enjoy!

GARDEN NOTES

• If you are planting for Monarchs resist the urge to plant ONLY milkweed. A new study shows that monarchs deposit 22% more eggs in a mix-species planting, as opposed to an Asclepias monoculture. What’s more, the high levels of animal biodiversity in the mixed planting did not lead to a loss of monarchs. A win for diversity on all levels.

• Birds are still migrating through North America and you can make their journey safer by turning off lights at night. Especially in cities, and with large, powerful lights like the 9/11 memorial, birds will leave migratory routes to investigate. They get confused, flying in circles and calling out, greatly increasing night-time collisions and exhaustion. The Audubon Society has a great program, Lights Out to learn more and advocate for change.

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

• Here is a short and lovely video about letting things rot. It eloquently explains so many beliefs love to share but does it in such a beautiful and even metal fashion.

• Here is a fun tool that allows you to place a drop of water in North America, and will then map that drop’s journey to the ocean via waterways.

IN THE NEWS

• You wouldn’t think it needs to be said at this point but don’t plant invasive plants. Nearly 40% of the invasive plants now in the US were originally introduced as ornamentals. Once you consider indirect ecological damage like Chestnut Blight killing off 4 billion trees after it was imported on an ornamental chestnut from Asia, the scale of ecological devastation wrought by our profession is truly staggering. Sadly, a new study shows that we haven’t even done the bare minimum to stop environmental deterioration: “61% of 1285 plant species identified as invasive in the US remain available through the plant trade, including 50% of state-regulated species and 20% of federal noxious weeds.”

• When trapped inside during the pandemic, a British wildlife cameraman documented the bees in his backyard with thrilling intimacy, allowing us to witness the personalities of species in this PBS documentary. I wish someone would do this in the northeast!

UPCOMING EVENTS

• UConn’s Native Plants and Pollinators Conference

  November 5, 2021

  9:00AM - 3:30PM

  Virtual

  Presentations will feature current science-based research and information
  on supporting pollinators in managed landscapes. Rebecca will lecture on The Language of Flowers: An Introduction to Pollination Ecology.

• Rooted in Place Ecological Gardening Symposium

  November 14, 2021

  10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

  In person.

  This is the 7th annual Rooted in Place Ecological Gardening Symposium at the Berkshire Botanical Garden. It will focus on Growing Resilience: The Climate Crisis, our Gardens, and Communities and is scheduled to be in person.

  Rebecca will present “Lessons in Built Ecology” on her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Other speakers include Jennifer Jewell, Sam Hoadley, and Pete Grima.

• Madison Square Park's Horticulture Symposium: Restoring the Urban Jungle

  November 18, 2021

  9:00AM - 12:30PM

  Virtual, free and open to the public

  Rebecca will be on a panel to discuss urban biodiversity after lectures Decolonize Your Green Space by Chief Dave Smoke McCluskey and A Guide to Restoring the Little Things that Run the World by Doug Tallamy. This symposium is free, virtual and open to the public.

www.rebeccamcmackin.com