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Small actions for biodiversity [1]

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Date: 2023-04-12

Garden of diversity

Everyone with a yard, even a little one, can make a pocket of biodiversity. Such pockets, though seemingly inconsequential, are actually vital to the survival of pollinators and birds. Each pocket should contain native flowering plants, though adapted exotics (as long as they aren’t potentially invasive) can be included as well.

I’m fortunate to work with a very large yard in an old neighborhood in San Antonio, Texas. The photo above shows one half of the big front yard. Here we have a rose garden surrounding a small decorative lawn. The roses are all tough varieties adapted to the conditions of South Texas. Once established they need no care beyond mulching, pruning, and only during drought occasional deep watering. Most of the flower companions of the roses are native wildflowers, some annuals like Bluebonnets, but most perennials. We plan to add many more of these. They are especially important to native bees and butterflies.

Gardens featuring permanent mulched plantings are important to the local hydrologic cycle and to soil health. Healthy soil is a pivotal aspect of carbon sequestration and even in a small yard can, in a small way, contribute to fighting climate change.

Rose varieties

Cecile Brunner

Nearly Wild

Belinda’s Blush

Julia Child

1000 Wishes

Lafter

Gruss an Aachen

Ducher

Iceberg

Cinco de Mayo

Calocarpa

Westerland

Buff Beauty

Joe Woodward

Native Flowers

Texas Bluebonnet

Winecup

Gregg’s Blue Mist

Basketflower

Englemann Daisy

Mealy Blue Sage

Common Sunflower

Sources

The Antique Rose Emporium

Native American Seed

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