CW Native Plant Farm

Nut and fruit bearing trees and bushes are life for birds. They feast on them year round. These are also the least likely to be purchased in a nursery. I have heard them described as “messy.” In a balance world most of the mess will be will be eaten, planted and stored by the local wildlife. Please buy messy in the future. #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

I spend a great deal of time talking about Dr Doug Tallamy - for good reason. Tallamy is foremost in encouraging people to plant natives in their garden to benefit wildlife. Oaks are his top keystone species and oaks top a lot of lists. Oaks provide so much for so many and there are lots of oaks to fit each ecosystem in WNY. I have every native oak and a few near native oaks in the nursery. If you come to the farm you can see them planted on our property as you walk around. I credit our diversity on the many oaks we have already in the area and the ones we have added. “Hard” mast refers to nut producing trees -think Oak, Hickory, etc. Soft mast is just that, soft-fleshed fruits – think Pear, Plum, etc. This piece will focus on hard mast trees.) Regardless of semantics, the takeaway is that planting mast producing trees as winter wildlife attractants have several benefits.” https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2020/01/17/enhancing-your-winter-wildlife-plots-with-hard-mast-trees/ #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

I will be in Depew with CW Native Botanika. Stop by and say hi. I’ll try to bring some Pollinators Welcome” signs. #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery https://fb.me/e/12hXVsgQN

Why mast years? “Why Do Oaks Mast? Scientists are uncertain as to the exact reason why oaks and other plants mast but there is a range of theories from climate temperatures and rainfall amounts to harsh summers affecting acorn production or the availability of spring winds during pollination. The specific causes remain a mystery, but one undeniable evolutionary benefit of masting is... ensured future offspring.” https://thebotanicaljourney.com/blogs/the-botanical-journey/oaks-acorns-and-the-mystery-of-the-mast #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

More on Mast trees. “It’s important to realize the classification of “mast trees” is not a taxonomic or genetic category. It’s really more of a qualitative description that identifies any tree which generates periodic larders and lacks in seed production.” Not surprising - oaks, hazelnuts and beech are in this group. Also in this group - apple (crabapples last until spring and feed robins on my property), spruce, and American red cedar. https://nature-mentor.com/mast-trees/ #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

Wild turkeys are a success story in terms of conservation. “Apple, oak and chestnut trees are favorite food producers for wildlife. Most hunters think acorns are the favorite nut for deer and turkeys. Some studies, though, show deer prefer chestnuts. Chestnuts contain 40% carbohydrates, 10% protein and don’t have the bitter tannins of many acorns. Over a century ago, the American Chestnut tree was wiped out due to blight, taking the white-tailed deer’s favorite mast crop with it. Deer had no choice but to turn to acorns. Plant breeder, Dr. Robert Dunstan of North Carolina, crossbred American Chestnut with Chinese Chestnut, resulting in a tree named the Dunstan Hybrid Chestnut. It can begin producing heavy crops of nuts in three to five years.” Personally I don’t care for the chestnut hybrid. I planted it and it grew more like a shrub and not like our majestic tree. I get disease resistant American chestnuts from a grower in Pennsylvania - planted 1/2 dos and sell them as well. #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery https://www.nwtf.org/conservation/article/mast-trees-produce-quickly

Swallowtails. I have all of these host plants except for Dutchman’s pipe because it did not survive. Many of these are in the nursery as well. #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

Our water levels are getting pretty high. If it gets much higher the streets will be impassible and some houses will be under water. #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

Flooding is getting significantly worse. I’ll take better pictures later when we go walking in the back. #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

We have started to flood pretty seriously. I have not observed this level of flooding for quite a few years now. It may even be up to the tree line in the back or up to the bridge at rte 93. #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

Mast producing trees provide forage food - “The following is a sampling of native North American trees, shrubs, and woody vines that produce hard or soft mast, listed alphabetically by scientific name. For beauty, productivity, and overall benefit to humans and wildlife, the top mast-producing trees and shrubs native to North America include: Serviceberry family (Amelanchier sp.) Aronia family (Aronia sp.) Hickory family (Carya sp.) American chestnut (Castanea dentata) and its hybrids Hazelnut family (Corylus sp.) Walnut family (Juglans sp.) Crabapple family (Malus sp.) Mulberry family (Morus sp.) Prunus family (Prunus sp.) Oak family (Quercus sp.) Blackberry family (Rubus sp.) Elderberry family (Sambucus sp.) Blueberry family (Vaccinium sp.) Viburnum family (Viburnum sp.)” http://mast-producing-trees.org/2009/11/mast-producing-trees-and-shrubs-native-to-north-america/ #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery

Plants lists for specialized relationships and educational material. #pollinatorgardening #pollinatorfriendlygardening #cwnativeplantfarm #cwnativeplants #nativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica #nativeplant #nativeplantgarden #nativeplantnursery https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/plant-lists--posters.html?fbclid=IwAR3OEODmzU6jk5WPRuOHDTE9NtyA_uCocNKd437xQDgnLz5L10kr4x4ZnfA