Hunt County Master GardenersTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Dragonflies in the Garden

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Dragonfly

Photo by John Sanger

Dragonflies in the Garden by John Sanger, Hunt County Master Gardener

One of the most rewarding aspects of gardening is enjoying the many wild creatures that come to visit. Some of my favorite visitors are dragonflies. They are fascinating to watch and photograph.

The fossil record tells us that the ancient ancestors of dragonflies were around long before the dinosaurs, and some of these insects had wingspans of more than two feet! Fortunately today’s dragonflies are much smaller. There are more than 160 species of dragonflies found throughout Texas, and they come in an incredible variety of brilliant colors, shapes and sizes.

Dragonflies are beneficial insects that prey on other flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, gnats and flying ants. They grasp their prey with their legs in flight and eat while airborne.

Dragonflies are amazing flyers and can hover in place, or fly forwards, backwards or straight up, much like a helicopter. They are among the fastest flying insects, and can fly for hours on end without resting. If you are lucky, you might see a dragonfly swarm – a large group of adult dragonflies feeding on a large population of gnats or other flying insects. It is quite an impressive display of aerial acrobatics!

Dragonflies spend most of their lives in and around water. The adult dragonfly lays eggs in the water or on water plants. The eggs hatch and the nymphs grow and molt for several months to several years, feeding on aquatic insects, tadpoles and even small fish.

After 9-14 molts through stages called instars, the nymph emerges from the water onto land, its exoskeleton breaks open and the adult dragonfly emerges and extends its wings. Once the wings dry and harden, the dragonfly can take flight. Adult dragonflies can live from a few weeks to one year.

The best way to attract dragonflies is to incorporate a water feature into your landscape. Ponds give dragonflies a place to lay their eggs, and submerged vegetation gives dragonfly larvae places to hide. Plants around the edges of the pond give larvae places to crawl when emerging to molt into adults. A larger pond will support a greater variety of dragonflies and will provide more hiding places for larvae – especially important if fish are present.

If you don’t already have one, consider adding a water feature to your landscape. It can attract dragonflies to your property, as well as a great variety of other wildlife. Take the time to welcome and study these amazing beneficial insects as they visit your garden. They are truly a wonder of nature.

 

Bird Feeding in Winter

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Bird Feeding in Winter by Dave White.

We spend many hours watching and enjoying the numerous species of birds that visit our yard every day. They provide unlimited entertainment, color, activity and music. Some of the native birds frequenting our yard are finches, cardinals, titmice, bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, flycatchers, wrens, woodpeckers and crows. There are also many other species who stay for short periods when migrating through our area as they travel to and from their summer and winter destinations.

Everyone can experience the same enjoyment by doing a few simple things to attract birds. A bird friendly yard consists basically of three things; food, water and protective cover or shelter. Creating a garden environment with these items in mind creates a location for birds to feel comfortable and linger. Let’s explore these three requirements in more detail.

Food – Birds need to eat everyday all year. We choose to feed the birds year round to keep them in the vicinity. During the summer they eat more insects, seeds, buds, caterpillars and worms because of availability. They also like to supplement their dining experience on the seed provided in the feeders. Always buy quality birdseed which has a variety of seeds including black sunflower, white millet, cracked corn, peanuts, and safflower. Avoid birdseed containing fillers of milo or wheat. Store the seed in a cool dry place in a covered container to prevent spoilage. Some course sand nearby provides grit for the bird’s gizzards to grind the hard seeds.

Feeders – I like a squirrel proof tube feeder hung on an 8 foot steel shepherd’s hook with a suitable squirrel shield attached. Hanging a feeder from a tree encourages squirrels, possum and raccoons to visit. This is also why I no longer use a platform feeder.

Place the feeder near the edge of the woods, shrubs or garden border which offers partial protection and a place for the birds to roost while waiting their turn at the feeders. Do not locate feeders close to a window which is one of the leading causes of death to startled birds flying into them fleeing a predatory bird. Also avoid placing feeders in large open areas leaving birds vulnerable without protection of a nearby hiding place.

Water – Birds need water to survive. A birdbath with a 2 -3 inch depth provides a place for them to get a drink and bathe. It should be large enough and deep enough for water to last a couple days in the hot summer. Do not add chemicals to control algae or insects. Provide this water source all year. Position the bird bath to prevent water contamination from feeder seed or bird droppings. Clean and replace the water weekly so it does not promote mosquito breeding.

The third item for your bird friendly habitat is to provide protective cover and shelter for the bird’s security and to raise their young. Accomplish this by planting shrubs, vines and flowers such as American Beauty Berry, Hawthorn, Hollies, Viburnum, Carolina Jessamine, zinnias, asters or marigolds nearby. I also found recommended designs for bluebird houses are used by numerous native bird species.

Bring on the Blues

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Bring on the Blues by Anita Harris, Hunt County Master Gardener.

It’s easy to see why bluebirds are among the most treasured and beloved backyard visitors.  With their brilliant colors, musical voices and gentle habits who wouldn’t want to entice these beauties into their backyard?  These harbingers of spring always bring a welcome case of the “blues”.

Not only are bluebirds endearing symbols of happiness, peace and hope, they also play a vital environmental role.  With a diet consisting mostly of insects, bluebirds help control harmful pests and reduce the need for pesticides in the environment. No other species of birds can be viewed as closely and intimately as bluebirds with their entire life cycle observable in 45 days.

More bluebirds winter in East Texas than anywhere else in the United States,   and Wills Point Texas has been designated the Bluebird Capital of Texas.   Each April the popular Bluebird Festival is held there.  Did you know birding is the #1 sport in America with some 53 million birders?

It is much easier to attract bluebirds to your backyard than one might think.  Here are my top 8 tips to help you “bring on the blues”:

Timing:    Boxes should be out by the first week of February.   Blues   build nests, lay eggs and raise young from late February to mid September.  They often mate for life, and return to the same nesting area each year.

Location:        The ideal habitat would be an open, or semi-open wide expanse of chemical-free lawn close to a water source.

Food :   Much to the delight of gardeners,  bluebirds devour large masses of crickets, snails and grasshoppers.  In winter berries and some fruit are added to their diet.   Sumac, cedar berries and mistletoe are locally available   nutrition sources.  Mealworms can also be provided both as a supplement during hard times and a treat.

Housing:    As cavity nesters, bluebirds will readily move into a birdhouse on the edge of a field or open lawn.   Ready- made bluebird boxes can be purchased for less than $15 at local discount stores.  For do-it-yourselfers, the Texas Bluebird Society website provides box designs with detailed mounting instructions.   Remember all nest boxes should have a door that easily opens for monitoring.

Monitor:     If you put up a nest box, you should monitor it. What exactly is monitoring? On a regular basis, you peek inside a nest box – or you watch the activity around the box to see how its residents are doing.    Regular monitoring is critical for backyard boxes because of the risk of house sparrows claiming the bluebird boxes or interfering with their nesting.

Water:    Bluebirds regularly use birdbaths to drink and bathe.  If the water is moving and splashing you’re more likely to entice them.

Control:   Sparrows and barn swallows may try to nest in the bluebird boxes.  If this happens, remove their nests and cover the opening with duct tape and leave it on 3-4 days then remove it. Bluebirds usually return within a few days and begin nest building.

Protect:    Cats kill millions of songbirds each year, so be vigilant and keep cats indoors to protect newly fledged nestlings that are especially vulnerable.

Hosting bluebirds to your yard offers the homeowner a unique opportunity – the ultimate hands-on, up-close-and-personal experience in wildlife conservation.   There is no better way for your children to explore the delights of the natural world and learn about its intricacies than to teach them to care for their bluebird charges.  Good luck and go get the blues!