Conservation

CITY OF ROCHESTER PROCLAIMS MAY 2023 NATIVE PLANT MONTH

The City of Rochester has officially proclaimed May 2023 as Native Plant Month. In addition to this proclamation, brought about in part by the tireless efforts of the Rochester Garden Club’s Conservation Committee, Mayor Malik Evans has made the historic commitment to adding 6,000 trees to the Rochester tree canopy, with a special emphasis on restoring tree life in underserved areas. Channelling funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, Senator Chuck Schumer has vowed to support this resolution, saying, “It is time for the Feds to dig in and help plant the seed for a more equitable– and a shadier and cooler– future for all of Rochester.”

The exciting tree-planting event at which this proclamation was declared featured Mayor Malik Evans, Senator Chuck Schumer, City Councilmember Mitch Gruber, City Commissioner of Environmental Sciences Rich Perrin, and RGC Conservation Committee chairperson Pamela O’Connor-Chapman.

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From the Garden Club of America:

APRIL 2023 PROCLAIMED NEW YORK NATIVE PLANT MONTH

The 23 Garden Club of America member clubs in the state of New York are pleased to announce the official designation of April 2023 as “New York Native Plant Month”.  The signed proclamation by Governor Hochul will follow by April 18, 2023. The GCA has led this effort across all 50 states and Washington, DC to increase awareness of the critical role native plants play in supporting a healthy environment, thriving wildlife and pollinator populations, reducing use of pesticides and fertilizers, cleaning air and water and so much more.
The Garden Club of America and its member clubs are committed to preserving and expanding native plant habitats, helping build awareness about the importance of native plants in sustaining healthy ecosystems, promoting biodiversity, encouraging the removal of non-native, invasive plants, and supporting all efforts to help native bees, butterflies, birds, other pollinators, and wildlife. All plants protect our planet’s natural resources, including air, water, and soil. A significant number of North American native species, including insects, caterpillars, birds, and other animals, are at risk of extinction because they cannot eat non-native plants. In addition, habitat loss, the use of invasive species, climate change, and pesticide use are contributing to their steep decline.
Through a Native Plant Month proclamation, New York and its citizens can engage and make a difference right at home.

To learn about plant species native to the Rochester area, click here.

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Dr. Doug Tallamy presented a free Zoom Webinar sponsored by Rochester Garden Club on Monday, October 26th.
For those of you who attended, we are sure you gained a valuable perspective and are rethinking your green space.

For those of you unable to attend his Webinar click on the following link to view the program: https://vimeo.com/472888684/91456bd7e6

Tallamy poster H landscape

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If you are concerned about your pet’s safety regarding plants, we suggest this link to ASPCA

 

There is a recycling Crisis! 
If you are curious as to what happens to our recycling, please read this article on The recycling crisis.

 

 

Welcome to RGC Conservation. We hope to keep you updated on conservation issues both national and local, and to provide you with information that we find of interest in our effort to understand and improve our fabulous planet.

 

 

What a Wonderful World with David Attenborough— BBC Video

Click on the blue link above for David Attenborough’s Video

 

 

 

Even if you recycle, you may be dumping the equivalent of 100 plastic water bottles into the environment…for more information click on the container of fruits.

 

Ocean Pollution

 

The Democrat and Chronicle recently featured an article about the Washed Ashore artwork that is currently on display at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Angela Haseltine Pozz, the artist behind this project, creates huge sculptures out of the plastic garbage in our oceans to educate the public about the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans.  Her sculptures are awe-inspiring. And I mean “awe” in the “Oh, my God, what have we done?” sense.  Please join me in reducing our use of plastics. You know the drill: cloth shopping bags, metal water bottles, metal or glass straws, reusable utensils, waxed cloth, etc.

 

Presents for the Environment
Think conservation when you are shopping for stocking stuffers or hostess presents. Shop locally or go on to Etsy is you want to personalize items or get them in assorted colors.

Reusable Item Replaced Item Local Source Internet Source
Metal straws Plastic straws Wegman’s Etsy.com
Glass straws Plastic straws Just Juice, 710 University Etsy.com
Metal thermoses Plastic bottles Parkleigh or Wegman’s Amazon.com
Waxed cloth Saran wrap Farmers’ Markets Amazon.com
Nano microfiber cloths Paper towels Not available locally Amazon.com
Shopping bags Plastic bags Wegman’s or Trader Joe’s Buy locally
Produce bags Plastic bags Target Amazon.com

 

Environmental Gifts
If you have some girls or women on your list who you give bigger presents to, think of Rothy’s (www.rothys.com). I have two pairs that I wore all summer and have just ordered a third. Not only are Rothy’s fashionable and comfortable but you can throw them in the washing machine. But the best thing is that they are made out of recycled plastic bottles.

Donations
And when you think about end-of-the-year donations, consider Washed Ashore, The Nature Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy of Central and Western New York, The World Wildlife Fund, etc.

 

 

Natural Tick Repellents:
1.  Plant your yard with plants that repel ticks include lavender, garlic, lemongrass, chrysanthemums (specifally the pyrethrum varieties), catnip, and beautyberry.
2.  Mow the grass frequently and very short.
3.  Use cedar chips.
4.  Use food grade diatomaceous earth to poison ticks. Apply it to pets. Use it diluted as a spray on yard and patio.
5.  Get chickens or guinea hens. They dine on ticks.

 

Environmentally Safe Weed Killer Recipe:
Mix in a sprayer:
1 gallon white vinegar
2 cups Epson salts
¼ cup blue Dawn detergent

 

Environmentally Safe Lawn Fertilizer:
Sprinkle granulated sugar on your lawn. It feeds the microbiomes in the soil so that grass thrives.

Conservation in the Garden
Now that fall is here, it is time to put away our gardens and get ready for the holidays.  There are two schools of thought about what to do with the garden for the winter: My husband’s and mine.  He likes everything raked up and all the plants trimmed back. I have learned that leaving the leaves down adds nutrients to the ground and that keeping the stalks on the native plants through the winter provides seed heads for the birds. Who will win this battle this year? I need to confess that I may leverage my husband’s love of birds to win the war. Stay tuned.