Ashley So Carly Starke. Statement of the Situation ◦ Identification of the Problem Proposed...

Ashley SoCarly Starke

Statement of the Situation◦ Identification of the

Problem Proposed Solution Background Ethical Issues Objectives Rationale

Materials Methods Data Analysis Implications Taking Action Conclusion

Lack of biodiversity in animal species Unused space and empty land Development and construction

◦Decreases amount of plants Food source and habitat

Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden◦ Wildflowers

Local species to central NJ◦ Hummingbirds

Arrive mid-April and stay until early September Ruby-throated and Rufous

◦ Butterflies Migrate from south during spring Monarch and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

◦ Habitat: warm and dry, protection Massed planting of one type Caterpillar food plant Weedy plants host to species Heights

◦ Food source: nectar

Contribution to the ecosystem◦Biodiversity

Lost due to alteration of habitat, species in surrounding area, and climate change

Rufous

Ruby-throated

Monarch

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Wildflowers ◦ Attract both hummingbirds and butterflies◦ Source of food and protection

NJ climate◦ Growing season◦ Warm and dry◦ Warm days, cools nights

Responsibility to care for environment Need resources, but also need to give back

◦ Give protection to species◦ Conserve

Purpose: bring butterflies and hummingbirds to BTHS◦ Observe and record species

Flowers, hummingbirds, butterflies◦ Observe what plants species are attracted to

Effects of solution◦ Advantages

Habitat for species Biodiversity Observing nature

Landscape designs to conserve species Sites with greater diversity of habitat types

and more varied terrain tend to have butterfly populations that are more stable over time◦ Woodland, grassland, heathland◦ Become adaptable◦ Change in climate◦ (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, 2010)

Evolution of columbine flowers in North America ◦ Red, white, yellow◦ Plant population shift

Hummingbird-pollinated red flowers

Hawkmoth-pollinated white or yellow flowers

Natural selection to change flower color

◦ (University of California - Santa Barbara, 2009)

Evaluate impact deer grazing can have on nest quality and food resources of birds

Decline of forest birds ◦ Disease, loss of habitat and increase in number

of animals that prey on bird nests◦ (Staedter, 2005)

Area Moisture

◦ Water-accessible◦ Drainage

Percolation tests Sunlight

◦ Warm days, cool nights Practicality

◦ Away from sports◦ Visible from basketball

court

pH Composition

◦ Minerals (Chlorine, zinc)◦ Clay, sand

Moisture, drainage

Based on proportions of silt, sand, and clay

Meter sticks, accurate to the nearest 0.1 m

Shovels Rakes American Meadows™ Butterfly &

Hummingbird Seed Mixture, 1 lb. ($24.95) Buckets Sand Hose (water) Scarecrow (optional)

Wildflowers – extremely adaptable

Mix of perennial + annual blooms◦ First year

Sprout: ~2 weeks (8 days – months) Bloom: 3-4 weeks after sprouting Annual blooms

◦ Following years: Heavy perennial bloom + reseeded

annual bloom Store in cool, dry place (5 years)

Botanical Name Common Name

Cynoglossum amabile Chinese Forget me Not

Cosmos bipinnatus Wild Cosmos

Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower

Gypsophila elegans Baby's Breath

Hesperis matronalis Dame's Rocket

Ipomoea purpurea Morning Glory

Lavatera trimestris Rose Mallow

Linaria maroccana Baby Snapdragon

Lupinus succulentus Wild Annual Lupine

Monarda citriadora Lemon Mint

Papaver rhoeas Red Poppy

Rudbeckia hirta Black Eyed Susan

Salvia coccinea Scarlet Sage

Silene armeria None-So-Pretty

Trifolium incarnata Crimson Clover

Tropaeoleum nanum Nasturtium

Select

the seed mixture.

Pick your planting location.Plant your seeds.Water

the seeds.

Enjoy your flowers. The color, variety and beauty will astound you. Pick a bouquet and enjoy them in your home as well.

Spring Clear area of all

existing growth◦ Particularly old

roots - competition Till ground

◦ Turn soil, rake area flat

Next day◦ Windless

Amount◦ 1 lb. for 2,000 - 3,000

square feet◦ Up to 3x minimum

coverage rates◦ Too dense inhibits

growth

Divide seed mixture in half Add 10 parts sand Hand-sow Repeat

Advantages◦ “Dilute seed”◦ Avoid missing areas

DO NOT rake or cover with soil Compress seeds into soil

◦ “Seed to soil” contact Scare birds (optional) Keep soil moist for 2-4 weeks Weed by “clumping” (American Meadows™, 2010)

Annual responsibilities:◦ Late fall: leave garden as is

Allows for any butterflies in egg, caterpillar, or chrysalis to survive winter

◦ Reseed annual blooms (optional)

Observe and record types of plant growth and animal species◦ Photograph◦ Identify and classify species

Randomly select 10 plants of each type to measure average heights◦ Plot scatterplot of number of butterflies or

hummingbirds attracted to specific flowers To plan for future – which plants to reseed

Monday, March 8◦ Place order (5 business days)

Tuesday, March 16◦ Till land

Wednesday, March 17 (after school)◦ Sow seeds

Thursday, March 18 – Thursday, April 1◦ Water area, weed

Thursday, April 1 – Thursday, April 29◦ Record types of flowers, plants, animal species

Drawbacks◦Requires maintenance◦May decrease insect populations

Cost◦$24.95 for seeds◦Fundraising to decrease cost

Education◦Raise awareness◦Asbury Park Press for publicity article

“Construction”◦Organize ordering of and gathering of

materials◦Coordinate maintenance of meadow

Fundraising◦Contact American Meadows™◦Write to PSFA◦Write to local botanists or NJ planting

agencies◦Host fundraiser

Sell plantable paper

Fundraising

Eco-Calendar◦Plant pages

Benefit outweigh costs/effort Garden will:

◦Increase biodiversity of flora and fauna◦Increase aesthetic appeal of area

Costs:◦Work◦$30.00

Any questions?

American Meadows™. (2010). How to create your own wildflower meadow. Retrieved February 24, 2010 from http://www.americanmeadows.com/QuickGuideToWildflowers/WildflowerHowTo/WildflowerSeedPlantingInstructions.aspx.

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (2010). Conservation from space: Landscape diversity helps to conserve insects. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 26, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2010/02/100207214126.htm.

Sutton, P. (2009). How to create a butterfly and hummingbird garden. New Jersey Audubon. Retrieved February 28, 2010 from http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionBackyardHabitat/CreateaGarden.aspx.

Staedter, T. (2005). Deer decreasing forest bird population. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 26, 2010 from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=deer-decreasing-forest-bi.

University of California - Santa Barbara (2009). Study of flower color shows evolution in action. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 2, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/06/090629165110.htm.