Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG)’s Post

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Householder Mowing Service LLC 2024 The Save the Bees Initiative. 1. Don't water your lawn 2. Mow less in summer months 3. Save the world! (and some money) Dandelions and Urban Bees Urbanization has reshaped our landscapes, often at the expense of biodiversity. However, amidst the concrete jungles, there's an unsung hero that plays a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems, particularly in sustaining bee populations - the dandelion. These resilient yellow flowers, often dismissed as weeds, offer a plethora of benefits to urban areas, including providing essential forage for bees. Dandelions are a vital source of nectar and pollen for bees, especially during early spring when there are limited floral resources available. Bees rely on these bright yellow blooms to feed themselves and their colonies. Their nutrient-rich nectar helps sustain bee populations, promoting their overall health and reproduction. One of the unique advantages of dandelions is their extended blooming period. These hardy flowers can flower from early spring through late fall, providing a consistent food source for bees. This extended foraging season is particularly important for urban bee populations. Dandelions are known for their ability to thrive in various conditions, making them one of the few flowering plants that can survive in urban environments. By cultivating dandelions and allowing them to grow, urban areas can increase plant diversity, creating a healthier ecosystem for various pollinators, including bees. Dandelions serve as an essential tool for raising awareness about the importance of supporting bee populations. Their ubiquity in urban lawns and parks offers a tangible connection between people and bees. As people begin to recognize the role of dandelions in sustaining bees, it can lead to increased efforts to protect these vital pollinators. Dandelions, often considered nuisances in well-manicured lawns, are in reality crucial allies in the battle to support urban bee populations. Their consistent food supply, extended blooming period, and role in encouraging urban beekeeping all contribute to the well-being of these essential pollinators. Our "Save the Bees Initiative" service plans specifically limit mowing in the summer months to only once per month. We unfortunately can only offer this contract to customers who will deliberately limit watering the grass in these months as dandelions do not need water at the same levels as a manicured lawns and are not as difficult to mow after long breaks. Lawns go dormant as the heat of summer intensifies allowing dandelions to thrive and feed the bees all summer long. By mowing once per month we limit over-seeding of dandelions and encourage flower production all year.

Create Your Own Pollinator Garden - Lunch & Learn Interested in helping the environment and beautifying your yard? Why not plant a wildflower garden? Native wildflowers can provide beneficial habitats for pollinators like butterflies, bees, moths, birds and other insects. They are beautiful, beneficial and easy to maintain.   Although pollinators are a critical part of our food system and the cornerstone of many ecosystems, they are in trouble. For the last two decades, pollinators have been under serious threat from habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use.   One of the very best, and easiest, things you can do to help pollinators is to plant a wildflower garden at your own home. These wildflower gardens not only provide new habitats for pollinators to thrive, they brighten up your yard, and reduce yard maintenance costs.   Join us on Wednesday, October 11, at 11:30 am to learn how to create your own pollinator garden with step-by-step instructions to make your DIY wildflower planting a success! Details: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - 11:30-12:30 pm Canton Township Administrative Building (1150 Canton Center Rd., Canton - 1st floor board room)   This is a FREE event, however, we ask that you register.   This event is part of the Local Impact Alliance's "Lunch & Learn" program. Bring your lunch and feed your mind. About our Speaker   David Hammond is an EMMY award-winning documentary producer — an entrepreneur with a diverse background in professional sports, broadcasting, environmental policy, and non-profit management.   In 2022 he founded Creating Habitats for Pollinators, a nonprofit whose goal is to increase habitats for pollinating insects and animals by planting native wildflowers. https://lnkd.in/eQQx_Dtc

I had the opportunity to design the planting plan for the first 'mini forest' in Brantford in partnership with the City of Brantford and the Brant Tree Coalition. This type of planting is relatively new to Ontario and mimics the highly dense and diverse planting created by Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki. The idea is that when trees and shrubs are planted this densely (~3 plants per square metre), they compete for light and resources, growing much quicker than they would in a natural setting. The planting incorporates a variety of trees and shrubs that occupy several layers of a forest: overstory, canopy, subcanopy, and shrub layer. Community volunteers helped plant 200 native trees and shrubs in just 2 hours. Native mycorrhizal innoculant was used as a soil amendment to improve mycorrhizal associations in an urban soil setting and lead to better tree health. After the planting was complete, a thick layer of mulch was added for weed suppression and to improve moisture retention. Though this type of planting offers an innovative and novel approach to increasing canopy cover and wildlife habitat in urban landscapes, it should not be used as a tool to replace standard restoration and afforestation plantings in natural landscapes. There are a few reasons for this: 1) Changes in morphology: this type of high density planting triggers shade avoidance responses in trees and shrubs which leads to elongated stems and decreased trunk and branch diameter. This process does occur naturally in forests but not to such a widespread and uniform extent. Large diameter trees are crucial to the structural diversity and biodiversity of a forest. They act as important perch habitat, provide several types of cavities for wildlife, create microtopographic habitat when they are uprooted and support diverse microbial communities. 2) Impacts on regeneration: tree & shrub seed production may be negatively affected as plants focus their energy on competing for light and resources. Dispersal pathways for seed could also become interrupted. Once a dense canopy is established, low light conditions will make it difficult for some understory species to germinate. 3) Uncertainty with long-term outcomes: we do not yet know the implications this level of dense and diverse planting has on survival/ mortality rates and species composition in the long run for our native plant communities. Miyawaki forests originated in subtropical and tropical regions where trees and shrubs have evolved to grow in highly competitive and diverse environments. In contrast, our continental/ temperate climate in Southern Ontario may not be able to sustain the same level of competition and diversity. That being said, I am excited to monitor the progress of this trial mini forest and see how the diverse arrangement of trees and shrubs will interact together. It is great to see municipalities taking action to increase their canopy cover to combat the impacts of climate change.

Tree planting increases green canopy in Center Line https://lnkd.in/g3x_kd9i

🧩 Tree Scheme helps to piece the puzzle together! With orders closing 31 August 2023, it’s time to order your native seedlings with Trees For Life. The Tree Scheme program helps people grow and plant native seedlings to bring landscapes to life; providing habitat for wildlife, shelter for stock, rebuilding soil and cleaning waterways. If you’ve been dreaming of starting a restoration project, getting in touch with Trees For Life is the first step in making your dream become a reality. The Tree Scheme makes it easy to get started and to keep your project going, and now is the perfect time to make it happen. “Often the most successful revegetation projects are those by landholders that steadily work to bring their restoration efforts to life over many years. They start off with a small order and learn and grow … putting together the jigsaw puzzle, piece by piece each year and adjusting their orders to the season and personal circumstance,” explains Vicki-Jo Russell, Trees For Life Revegetation Services Manager. “If you’re placing an order for the first time, we definitely recommend this approach. Plus, with the good rains we’ve had this year, submitting a 2023 Tree Scheme order to plant in winter next year is a great time to get started.” You can choose to grow your own seedlings, or have one of Trees For Life’s passionate volunteers grow for you. Expert staff can help you select the right native species and provide all the help and information you need for your planting project. The Tree Scheme currently offers over 200 species from 42 vegetation zones across South Australia. Landholders can choose their own species or ask Trees For Life staff to select on their behalf. Whether you have a vision in mind — or just want to get started but you’re not sure how to make it happen — Trees For Life can help. In 2023, there are several discounts on offer: - Landholders affected by the 2023 floods can receive a 50% discount* for seedlings, tree guards and stakes with support from the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board through funding from the landscape levies. - Landholders with ElectraNet assets on their properties can receive a 50% discount* for seedlings, tree guards and stakes. - Schools and small community groups can get a 50% discount* when ordering native seedlings. Order your seedlings now and they’ll be ready to plant in winter 2024. You’ll find more information on our website, including Frequently Asked Questions and order forms with a species list for your area: https://bit.ly/3DdwlN0. You can also phone 08 8406 0500, or email info@treesforlife.org.au. *Conditions apply and discount doesn’t apply to membership.

Create Your Own Pollinator Garden - Lunch & Learn Interested in helping the environment and beautifying your yard? Why not plant a wildflower garden? Native wildflowers can provide beneficial habitats for pollinators like butterflies, bees, moths, birds and other insects. They are beautiful, beneficial and easy to maintain.   Although pollinators are a critical part of our food system and the cornerstone of many ecosystems, they are in trouble. For the last two decades, pollinators have been under serious threat from habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use.   One of the very best, and easiest, things you can do to help pollinators is to plant a wildflower garden at your own home. These wildflower gardens not only provide new habitats for pollinators to thrive, they brighten up your yard, and reduce yard maintenance costs.   Join us on Wednesday, October 11, at 11:30 am to learn how to create your own pollinator garden with step-by-step instructions to make your DIY wildflower planting a success! Details: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - 11:30-12:30 pm Canton Township Administrative Building (1150 Canton Center Rd., Canton - 1st floor board room)   This is a FREE event, however, we ask that you register.   This event is part of the Local Impact Alliance's "Lunch & Learn" program. Bring your lunch and feed your mind. About our Speaker   David Hammond is an EMMY award-winning documentary producer — an entrepreneur with a diverse background in professional sports, broadcasting, environmental policy, and non-profit management.   In 2022 he founded Creating Habitats for Pollinators, a nonprofit whose goal is to increase habitats for pollinating insects and animals by planting native wildflowers. https://lnkd.in/eQQx_Dtc

🌿 Transforming Houston Through Community Gardens 🌿 Houston's urban landscape is blooming with the growth of community gardens, showcasing the city's dedication to green spaces, sustainability, and social connection. These gardens are not just about growing food; they're about cultivating community, resilience, and a shared vision for a greener future. 🎉 Spotlight on Success: - The Last Organic Outpost: A beacon of sustainable urban agriculture in the Fifth Ward. - Westbury Community Garden: Turning Westbury green, one plot at a time. - Plant It Forward: Empowering Houston's refugees through urban farming. 💡 Beyond Greenery: Community gardens serve as urban oases, improving neighborhoods, enhancing biodiversity, and offering serene escapes from city life. They're places of education, where people of all ages learn about sustainability, nutrition, and ecology. Moreover, these spaces foster wellness, providing physical and mental health benefits through the simple act of gardening. 🚀 Innovation and Growth: From hydroponics to smart irrigation, technological advances are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in urban agriculture, making it an exciting time for Houston's community gardens. Let's celebrate the role of community gardens in making Houston a more sustainable, connected, and vibrant city. Here's to the green thumbs, the community leaders, and everyone who believes in the power of planting. 👉 Discover more about how these green spaces are sowing the seeds for a brighter future in Houston. #CommunityGardens #SustainableCities #HoustonGardening #UrbanInnovation https://lnkd.in/gibTqjR4

It is wise and needed to support wild bees and other wild pollinators, and in fact, it can be easily done even in your garden (or on a PV farm 😊): 🌱 Plant native species – flowers, trees, or shrubs, always choose native species. They are also naturally adapted to the local environmental and climatic conditions, making them more resilient. What is important, native plants have developed characteristics that align with the needs and behaviors of wild bee species, which make them often more useful for pollinators. 🌸 Plant species that ensure flowering throughout the entire season. This provides a continuous source of nectar and pollen for wild bees. 🍯 Plant species known to be a great food source. For example, Common comonica is known to be visited by 67 species of solitary bees, including two species of swarmers, readily flown by bumblebees. 🌼 Do not focus on nectariferous plants only! Include the pollen-producing species as well. This is especially important for the most endangered wild bees. The lifespan of a bee is only one year, and bee larvae feed on pollen. For this reason, pollen-producing plants are essential for population development. 🐝 Keep in mind that some insect species depend on specific plant species. Some species specialize in collecting pollen from a single species or genus of plants and depend on its flowering time, such as the mason bee (Hoplitis anthocopoides) that uses viper's bugloss flowers. 🏡 Include plants that could provide shelter or nesting material for bees, e.g., bitterroot lesser or parsnip, which have hollow stems or stalks with a soft core. 🌍 Avoid and eliminate invasive plant species as they are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. 🍃 Leave unmowed areas/hedgerows. 🌳 Leave dead wood in peace so it can be used by wild pollinators and other insects. Additionally, decaying wood can act as a backup source of water during drought. 🔨 Introduce stumps with drilled holes of different diameters so they can be used as nesting and shelter sites. 🏖️ Create bee banks. Those are sandy structures used by bees (and other insects) digging nests in the ground. They are created from mounds of loose sand and similar materials in which it is possible to burrow. 🏠 Introduce artificial nesting structures. You can introduce insect hotels; however, pay attention to do it wisely and carefully so that it does not pose a threat to bees (for example: secure the insect house with a net so that it does not become a bird canteen, make sure the empty stems are not torn). 🏡 Fill your insect houses with clay. This way, it may be inhabited by rare bee species, which also nest in structures that include clay walls, such as partially protected hairy lichen. 🌾 Optimize the maintenance - mowing should be carried out as infrequently as possible and as late in the season as possible. Mow different sectors at different times. 🚫 Minimize the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. 🌍🐝🌸 #Biodiversity #Wildbees

Quercus Marilandica and Planting: A Guide to the Blackjack Oak Quercus Marilandica and Planting: A Guide to the Blackjack Oak Quercus Marilandica, or the Blackjack Oak, is a remarkable tree species native to the southeastern United States. This rugged and resilient tree boasts unique characteristics that set it apart from other oak varieties, making it a valuable addition to any landscape. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the world of Quercus Marilandica, from its distinct features to the essential steps for planting and caring for this remarkable tree. I. Introduction Why Quercus Marilandica is Special? Quercus Marilandica, or Blackjack Oak, is unique for its remarkable resilience and adaptability. Even in harsh conditions, such as poor soil quality and prolonged periods of drought, this oak species thrives. It’s this exceptional ability to withstand adversity that makes it an excellent choice for planting in various environments. The Importance of Planting Trees Before we dive into the specifics of Quercus Marilandica, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves why planting trees is a crucial endeavor. Trees play a pivotal role in our ecosystem, offering an array of benefits from producing life-giving oxygen to providing vital habitat for countless species. By planting trees like Quercus Marilandica, we actively contribute to creating a greener and healthier planet for current and future generations. II. Quercus Marilandica: An Overview Characteristics of Quercus Marilandica One of the most distinctive features of the Blackjack Oak is its bark, which closely resembles the rough texture of alligator skin. This unique bark texture sets it apart from other oak species, making it easily recognizable. The leaves of Quercus Marilandica have sharp, jagged edges, contributing to its “Blackjack” moniker. Native Habitat and Distribution Quercus Marilandica primarily thrives in the southeastern United States, including regions of Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas. It’s well-suited for the dry, sandy soils commonly found in these areas. In its native habitat, it often grows alongside other hardy species, contributing to the rich biodiversity of the region. Ecological Benefits Beyond its distinctive appearance, Quercus Marilandica offers a host of ecological benefits. The acorns produced by this oak species are a valuable food source for a variety of birds and mammals, adding to the local ecosystem’s vitality. Additionally, its robust root system plays a crucial role in preventing soil erosion, helping to maintain soil stability. III. Planting Quercus Marilandica Selecting the Right Location When considering the planting of Quercus Marilandica, it’s imperative to choose the right location. This oak species thrives in areas that receive ample sunlight, so select a spot that provides full sun exposure. Moreover, ensure that the chosen site offers proper drainage, as Quercus Marilandica prefers well-drained soil. Preparing the S...