GoGardenNews - Items of gardening and ecological interest

Karla Arboleda recently published an article in Vegetable and Specialty Crop News, Wildflowers Help Watermelon Pollinators. In it, she reports, on conclusions reached by Miriam Jenkins, a graduate of Clemson University’s Wildlife and Fisheries Biology program. "For greater fruit quantity and quality, growers can use wildflowers to attract watermelon pollinators."

As much as we hate them, hurricanes can make a bird-watcher’s dream come true. Powerful winds send birds from distant locations far north along coastlines, or even inland. You might even find some rare species from Africa or the Caribbean in your own backyard. So, get outdoors and scout for birds before the wind dies down!

The two obvious characteristics of hurricanes are very strong winds and heavy rainfall. Gardeners affected by direct hits are immediately concerned with the devastating impact upon their gardens. But there are other less obvious, but important consequences – pollinator injury or displacement, and pollination degradation.

Hurricanes can have long-term effects upon gardens the likes of which we’ve never much considered before. Considerate gardeners should try their best to restore their gardens as best they can in the wake of a storm.

Salt is good, right? We say someone is “salt of the earth” if they are virtuous. Salt is a valuable commodity, sometimes used for barter or as money. Roman soldiers received part of their salary – salarium – in salt. A worthless soldier (or slave) wasn't "worth his salt." But, salt can be a bad thing. Just ask any coastal gardener. Storm surges from hurricanes - even minor flooding - increase salt content in the soil.

When Hurricane Irma blew through the Southeast in 2017, the region’s agriculture was affected in various ways. Ayanava Majumdar, Extension entomologist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, pointed out that the storm could have unexpected consequences for farmers. It stands to reason that not only farmers would be affected, but gardeners, as well.