Native Plant Trust’s Post

Leave the Leaves and Save the Stems! Let's work together to re-define what a beautiful landscape is. In our eyes, the most beautiful landscapes are the ones that support the most wildlife. One of the most valuable (and easiest) things you can do to support pollinators, invertebrates, and other wildlife is to provide them with the winter cover they need - fallen leaves and standing dead plant material. Many butterflies and moths utilize leaf litter as their overwintering habitat. A great example of this is the Wooly Bear Caterpillar; it spends the winter months burrowed beneath fallen leaves for protection. The seed heads on native plants provide crucial food throughout the winter for birds and other critters like toads and turtles. In early spring, seed heads can be pruned in order to create nesting sites for Carpenter Bees, Leafcutter Bees, and Mason Bees. In addition to all the great benefits for wildlife, leaf litter also serves as free mulch that suppresses weeds and fertilizes the soil as it decomposes. That’s why this year - and every year - we encourage everyone to #LeaveTheLeaves and #SaveTheStems

How can a landowner make their property more suitable for wildlife like foxes, turkeys, white-tailed deer, and ruffed grouse? According to NC Forest Service Ranger Rich Carpenter, the answer is clearcutting. Clearcutting provides various benefits for wildlife related food availability, cover, habitat diversity, and travel routes. https://lnkd.in/e2Whnf-B

Are you planning a tree planting project? 🌳 According to the Somerset Tree Strategy 2023, Somerset's tree cover by area is below the national average. The loss of our trees and woodlands has, in some places, been devastating for dependent species, or wildlife which travels through wildlife corridors created by areas of woodland. At a landscape level, woodland size, diversity, and connectivity need to increase. Planting trees can be a relatively easy, community-focused and extremely rewarding way of helping local wildlife, but the success of planting will depend on choosing the right tree for the right place. ✅ For #NationalTreeWeek, find out how to choose the right tree for the right place with our handy guide: https://lnkd.in/ekeKAcEy #RightTreeRightPlace #Trees #Woodland #NatureRecovery #Landscape #Conservation

April is #NativePlantMonth - the ideal time to include native, pollinator-friendly plants in your gardens and habitats. Join us on April 16 for a #FreeWebinar with Wildlife Habitat Council where we'll share the benefits of #NativePlants plus tips on identifying and sourcing the best ones for your area: https://hubs.la/Q02s0LPb0

🦌 Wildlife Wednesday: Coues Whitetail Deer 🦌 A favorite among neighbors and visitors of the Chiricahua Mountains, the elusive Coues whitetail deer is a true gem of our local wildlife. Here are five fascinating facts about these graceful creatures: Size: Coues whitetail deer are smaller than their northern relatives, with bucks typically weighing between 100-120 pounds and does around 65-80 pounds. Habitat: They thrive in the rugged terrain and dense vegetation of the Chiricahua Mountains, making them masters of camouflage. Diet: These deer primarily feed on a variety of shrubs, forbs, and grasses, adapting their diet to the seasonal availability of food. Behavior: Coues whitetail are known for their incredible agility and can leap over obstacles with ease, making them challenging to spot in the wild. Lifespan: In the wild, they usually live for about 7-10 years, with some reaching up to 12 years under ideal conditions. 📸 Have you spotted a Coues whitetail deer? Share your photos and experiences with us! #WildlifeWednesday #CouesWhitetailDeer #ChiricahuaMountains #PortalAZ #NatureLovers #WildlifePhotography #ExploreArizona #OutdoorAdventures #LocalWildlife #Conservation #NaturalBeauty

Thicket habitat provides cover for wildlife. Here is a video of a bluejay resting in thicket cover of native shrub: Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). Whenever you think of creating naturalistic landscaping always include thicket-forming shrubs.

There is a reason our Wildlife Habitat Blend is one of our most popular products. This blend has much to offer your land and area wildlife. Key Benefits: 🌾 Bunchgrasses offer secure nesting for birds. 🌸 Extended flowering supports pollinators all season long. 🦌 Forbs and legumes enrich deer diets with high protein. This blend requires minimal maintenance, thriving year after year without replanting. Perfect for landowners aiming to enrich their terrain with a self-sustaining food plot that supports a rich diversity of wildlife. Explore how Bamert's Wildlife Habitat Blend can transform your land into a thriving wildlife habitat. https://lnkd.in/d2-R6ef #WildlifeConservation #SustainableLandscaping #BamertSeed

As summer heats up, we know we should drink more water to stay hydrated. But how do plants and wildlife keep hydrated? Dr. Jacob Dykes spoke about how to provide water to wildlife during the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension “Water Wednesday” webinar. “Habitat management is wildlife management,” he said. It was a loaded session! Here are 3 of my takeaways to help you manage your outdoor spaces to better #SupportWildlife: 🌧️ Build rain gardens. The depressions help store water and minimize runoff. 🌵 Introduce water-efficient landscaping and #NativePlants. These plants require less water and fertilizer and offer more support to pollinators and wildlife. 🪣 Create water guzzlers. These areas minimize evaporation to allow you to collect, conserve, and offer water to wildlife. You’ll have to include ramps or logs to ensure animals can climb out if they fall in, and keep them clean (and probably manage for mosquitoes). 📸 And this one comes with a bonus: Having water sources attracts wildlife, which can help you score some great photos! Even the sound of water dripping can bring wildlife to you. #WaterManagement becomes increasingly important as temperatures rise. If we better manage our outdoor spaces, we can better support the wildlife we share our communities with.

Kroenke Ranches is taking bold new steps on Texas’s WAGGONER RANCH by adopting a holistic approach to the ecological management of the historic 560,000-acre ranch’s significant wildlife resources. The primary land-management techniques currently being employed by the Wildlife Division are targeted specifically at quail and white-tailed deer habitats. Since Stan Kroenke purchased the Waggoner Ranch in February 2016, brush management has been performed on more than 150,000 acres of the 875-square-mile landholding. This comprehensive management philosophy has served to promote populations of native grasses and forbs and to enhance habitat diversity on the largest single ranch under one fence in the Lone Star State Stan Kroenke's 1,700,000 acres take the Number 4 spot in The Land Report 100 presented by Peoples Company: https://lnkd.in/eDrmGzyu PHOTO CREDIT: © Kroenke Ranches - Peoples Company #LandReport100 #AmericasLargestLandowners #landowners #KroenkeRanches #WaggonerRanch #WildlifeManagement #EcologicalConservation #QuailHabitat #DeerHabitat #BrushManagement #HabitatDiversity #NativeGrasses

Kroenke Ranches is taking bold new steps on Texas’s WAGGONER RANCH by adopting a holistic approach to the ecological management of the historic 560,000-acre ranch’s significant wildlife resources. The primary land-management techniques currently being employed by the Wildlife Division are targeted specifically at quail and white-tailed deer habitats. Since Stan Kroenke purchased the Waggoner Ranch in February 2016, brush management has been performed on more than 150,000 acres of the 875-square-mile landholding. This comprehensive management philosophy has served to promote populations of native grasses and forbs and to enhance habitat diversity on the largest single ranch under one fence in the Lone Star State Stan Kroenke's 1,700,000 acres take the Number 4 spot in The Land Report 100 presented by Peoples Company: https://lnkd.in/eDrmGzyu PHOTO CREDIT: © Kroenke Ranches - Peoples Company #LandReport100 #AmericasLargestLandowners #landowners #KroenkeRanches #WaggonerRanch #WildlifeManagement #EcologicalConservation #QuailHabitat #DeerHabitat #BrushManagement #HabitatDiversity #NativeGrasses