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Wildflowers on Wildlife Wednesday
In today’s installment of Wildlife Wednesday, I’d like to discuss wildflowers! But…. they aren’t critters, so why here? Why on Wildlife Wednesday? BECAUSE wildlife relies on them! In many cases, so do we, without even acknowledging it.
Ahead of the coming Myakka River Rendezvous, I’ve had a couple of well intended volunteers and folks from the public ask if I/we want or intend to mow or weed-eat the weeds blooming randomly around the property- especially in common areas. The answer is no thank you, and here is why….
Wildflowers in Winter
These are lean times for pollinators. Especially as dry season and cold weather really kick in. Did you know that Florida has thousands of species of pollinators?! At least 315 different bee species alone, 29 of which are recorded to be endemic (only found here in Florida.) The native wildflowers that are blooming this time of the year are clearly conditioned for it. Florida’s major vegetable and fruit crops are largely not blooming now, due to current weather conditions. But, the pollinators agriculture will need must live to pollinate and/or create future pollinators for the job. This process benefits us immensely. Wildflowers hold them over, naturally. Plus, wildflowers- especially on nature preserves and conservation easements like ours, are untreated by insecticides, fertilizers and other dangerous chemicals. That makes them safe snacks for wildlife!
Of course, to appeal to humanity, we must do what I just did. We must explain how treating another life with respect benefits US. Why is that…I often wonder? Don’t all of those little lives deserve what they require to live, as we do? They are all sentient beings. Leaving wildflowers to complete their lifecycle, feed wildlife, seed and ensure future plants to do the same is the least that we can do. Sometimes these wild blooms later produce fruit. Fruiting ensures even more beings benefit from the natural dance of the plant and pollinator.
Consider too, how beautiful they are. Take a minute to look, learn to ID them then read about them. Some are medicinal and edible even for us! Nature provided long before grocery stores and restaurants, we just forgot this fact or quit caring to learn. But nature doesn’t forget, and keeps going. It is all so incredible, and deserves far better than the loud and smelly blades of lawn equipment. What good does beheading plants to make it them same height do, anyway? Do people really care if their outdoor terrain is gauged as “evenly beheaded?”
We don’t! We care for all the wild creatures and plants themselves. We afford them all the best and most natural chance at life here on CMNC.
As to the term “weed” I’d like to share a poem I wrote several years ago on the subject-
“If you like a flower, you’ll pluck it.
If you love it, you’ll leave it be.
Know all plants for who they are…
You’ll never know a weed.”
Funny….no one ever offers to mow or weed eat the flowers we grow in the garden. I guess contained blooms are largely more accepted. Let’s change that!
I have attached some pictures of wildflowers currently blooming on the property on our Facebook page. Comment on each picture if you know who they are!
https://donate.flanzertrust.org/…/crowley-museum…/
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