Jul 152014
 
Great Green Bush Cricket on Amaranthus caudatus.

Great Green Bush Cricket on Amaranthus caudatus.

Amaranth is an ancient grain. Its family name is Amanthaceae, with nearly 900 species worldwide. This article focuses on the non-native species Amaranthus caudatus, a species grown by the Aztec Indians of Mexico 8000 years ago, and which has naturalized in my area, Northern California. Yes, that the popular amaranth in our garden is not native was a concern to me when considering it as a topic for this blog site. However, I am taking the time to discuss it here because of its generous gift to both humans and wildlife as a food source.

Mature amaranth in the fall surrounds garden seating.   Note the pale color of the seed heads -- time to harvest seed.

Mature amaranth in the fall surrounds garden seating. Note the pale color of the seed heads — time to harvest seed.

Amaranth likes disturbed soils. It gets its common name “pigweed” because it frequently thrives in the disturbed soils of barnyards, especially pig pens. But because there are so many plants commonly referred to as pigweed, I use “amaranth” in this article. Furthermore, I do not use Amaranthus caudatus‘s other common name, “love-lies-bleeding”, because that’s just plain weird! We’ll stick to “amaranth”.

Young volunteer amaranth in the author's garden.

Young volunteer amaranth in the author’s garden.

A curious thing happened in our garden recently. We reclaimed a garden bed that had laid fallow– it was an excellent undisturbed wildlife brush pile creating excellent soil!!! The soil was pushed back off off walkway slates and churned into a planting mound. It was disturbed, first time in a couple of years. Up came amaranth, all along the borders of the bed, some on the mound. Yes, there’s cucumber in there somewhere.

Young amaranth in the author's garden competes with dock and rhubarb.

Young amaranth in the author’s garden competes with dock and rhubarb.

The young amaranth leaves have been a delicious salad addition. Tastes a little like soil to me, but I appreciate the not-iceberg-lettuce! hearty flavor.

These amaranth (foreground), by fall, will have been thinned, will grow to over 6 feet tall, and will drape luscious tassel-like, seed-rich flowers.

These amaranth (foreground), by fall, will have been thinned, will grow to over 6 feet tall, and will drape luscious tassel-like, seed-rich flowers.

Amaranth is considered an insectary plant, and that’s no wonder considering how many zillions (don’t quote me) of flowerlets there are, with each needing to be pollinated before becoming a seed.

Amaranth stalks are filled with pith, a welcoming overwintering habitat for insects.

Amaranth stalks are filled with pith, a welcoming overwintering habitat for insects.

The substantial sturdy stems of amaranth can become so ridged and thick that an adult’s hand just reaches around it. Inside is a porous pith — perfect burrowing material for insects. At harvest time, don’t forget to leave some stalks in the garden to encourage wildlife to overwinter in your garden. Besides, you will never get the last seed from the Medusa of flowers, but hungry songbirds might. So leave harvested stalks in your garden. One person’s “debris” could be a whole ecosystem’s habitat.

Birds feeding on Amaranthus caudatus. Photo credit: Diane Kennedy of Vegetariat (http://www.vegetariat.com).

Birds feeding on Amaranthus caudatus. Photo credit: Diane Kennedy of Vegetariat (http://www.vegetariat.com).

Bird feeding on Amaranthus caudatus. Photo credit: Diane Kennedy of Vegetariat (http://www.vegetariat.com).

Bird feeding on Amaranthus caudatus. Photo credit: Diane Kennedy of Vegetariat (http://www.vegetariat.com).

The advantages for including amaranth in my edible garden, which is within our “habitat food forest”, keep adding up. Buckwheat and amaranth pancakes for us, pollen and leafage for insects and small critters, seed for birds, a soil builder, and an overwintering material for insects and soil critters.

Enjoy your wildlife habitat garden!

Tony

Some Extra Photos:

 

Amaranth caudatus growing alongside Bird Bath Beach in the author's garden. Note rocks in the bath -- steps to the deep end for wasps, bees, butterflies, and birds.  Also note the driftwood perches to allow birds to check for safety before committing to the water.

Amaranth caudatus growing alongside Bird Bath Beach in the author’s garden. Note rocks in the bath — steps to the deep end for wasps, bees, butterflies, and birds. Also note the driftwood perches to allow birds to check for safety before committing to the water.

 

The red pigment in amaranth was used by the Native American Hopi tribe to dye cloth.

The red pigment in amaranth was used by the Native American Hopi tribe to dye cloth.

Amaranth seedlings (purple, back right) are tiny in relation to a sunflower seedling (green, with seed still attached).

Amaranth seedlings (purple, back right) are tiny in relation to a sunflower seedling (green, with seed still attached).

 

Drying stand for amaranth. The flower clusters will be "milked" so that the seed will drop onto the sheet for easy collection.

Drying stand for amaranth. The flower clusters will be “milked” so that the seed will drop onto the sheet for easy collection.

 

Jun 162014
 
spore lore, habitat it and they will come, tony mcguigan, garden, soil, soil under my nails, gardening, gardens, native plants, permaculture, wildlife garden, environmental education, ecological landscaping, snag, Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens, tree snag, dead tree, Scrub Jay, bird perch

Scrub Jay atop Gondola Perch, enjoying its lookout vantage point above Tony’s garden.  A very long redwood tree limb has been lashed vertically to the heavy-duty post that suspends cables for grape and fig vines.

Every month, I write an article for Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.  This month’s article was Pipevine Swallowtail Hummock – A Habitat Installation  yesterday — my articles appear at that blog every 14th of the month.

This article is my response, in pictorial detail (sometimes I just want to draw up plans!), to a comment requesting ideas for what to do with part of a dead tree being removed by a neighbor.  Dead trees left to weather time are called snags.  So this article is about how to install a snag.

Post

spore lore, habitat it and they will come, tony mcguigan, garden, soil, soil under my nails, gardening, gardens, native plants, permaculture, wildlife garden, environmental education, ecological landscaping, snag, Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens, tree snag, dead tree, Scrub Jay, bird perch

As the first photo of this article demonstrates, a snag, or long tree limb, can be lashed to a vertical post.  The picture above, “Post”, is a simple diagram of doing just that.  The heft of the pole required will be determined by the expected weight and wind resistance of the snag or tree limb.  Think heavy wind, heavy rain.  Think heavy, rain-soaked wood being twisted by the wind.  Fill the pipe with cement if possible.  Use a salvaged pipe to lower cost.  An old pipe will develop a beautiful, rich red-brown patina: rust.  Benefit: Pole is sunk once, can be used for multiple snag installations.

Downside: Not much happening underground in the way of habitat cavities.

Hole

spore lore, habitat it and they will come, tony mcguigan, garden, soil, soil under my nails, gardening, gardens, native plants, permaculture, wildlife garden, environmental education, ecological landscaping, snag, Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens, tree snag, dead tree, Scrub Jay, bird perch

Now we are getting somewhere; we have dug a hole to secure the snag upright.  The wood of the snag is now receiving soil-to-wood contact.  That soil-wood interface creates a WELCOME mat for an enormous array of critters to leave the soil and enter into or crawl onto the wood.  My general rule for supporting fairly consistent weight (the diameter of the pole/log does not vary much) is to dig the pole/snag in one third of its length.  For example, a 15-foot pole would be dug in 5 feet.  I might miss the foot or more of height I have lost in the hole but I will be happy to see the pole stand sturdily for many years.

Benefits: Wood-to-soil interface.  No cement.  Base of snag will rot — a cascading spectrum of Life will visit the garden.

Downsides: Base of snag will rot — will eventually fall.

Hole Plus Cavities

spore lore, habitat it and they will come, tony mcguigan, garden, soil, soil under my nails, gardening, gardens, native plants, permaculture, wildlife garden, environmental education, ecological landscaping, snag, Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens, tree snag, dead tree, Scrub Jay, bird perch

You do not have to go to India to visit the Taj Mahal!  Yes, “Hole Plus Cavities” is my favorite option of the three plans diagramed.  Know where the snag, or limb, or weight wants to lean/fall.  When I move a hulking piece of wood, I find the center of gravity such that the massive weight can be held up by one finger.  Finding the center of gravity will ensure that your resources are applied most efficiently.  For example, your base rocks in the hole will become most effective if the snag is leaning in the correct direction.

Benefits: Large hole allows easier insertion of snag.  Cavities, of varying sizes, between rocks invite critters, of varying sizes.  The snag bulk can be larger because heavy, dense rock is keeping the base securely rooted.  Only diagram with a smiley-faced flower.  Lots of digging — the soil from the hole can be bermed/mounded to increase the site’s non-linear, less anal, aspect (let’s face it, most gardens are flat, boring!).

Downsides: Lots of digging — hard work.  Care must be used to snugly pack rocks against snag.  Settling of rocks over time will occur; will require testing strength of base on occasion.

Marilyn, Thank you for asking!

All, Enjoy your habitat creations.  Habitat it!

                                            Tony

Creating Perches To Welcome Pond Wildlife — my monthly post at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens

 1- Residential Habitats -- Critters and Their Homes, Blog  Comments Off on Creating Perches To Welcome Pond Wildlife — my monthly post at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens
May 152014
 

 

Oak Tunnel Tower -- BEFORE.

Oak Tunnel Tower — BEFORE.

Oak Tunnel Tower -- AFTER.

Oak Tunnel Tower — AFTER.

Lizard Stone House -- BEFORE.

Lizard Stone House — BEFORE.

Lizard Stone House -- AFTER.

Lizard Stone House — AFTER.

Turtle Pond Pier -- BEFORE.

Turtle Pond Pier — BEFORE.

Turtle Pond Pier -- AFTER.

Turtle Pond Pier — AFTER.

See the post

Creating Perches To Welcome Pond Wildlife

for more pictures and for how these habitat installations were created.

Yesterday (the 14th) was my monthly blog post at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens. This month, my blog article discusses these wildlife habitat installations at the Laguna Environmental Cental in Santa Rosa, California.

Enjoy! And please comment me under my NP & WG article if you have any comments or questions.

Tony

 

Apr 142014
 
The BEFORE.

The BEFORE.

The Plan.

The Plan.

The AFTER.

The AFTER.

 

Snake Sedge Rockpile Resort

Today (the 14th) is my monthly blog post at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.  This month, my blog article discusses this wildlife habitat installation with high school seniors from Orchard View School in Sebastopol, California.

Enjoy!  And please comment me under my NP & WG article if you have any comments or questions.

Tony

 

Feb 192014
 
Great White Egret

From my YouTube channel:

20140217 Kayaking on the Laguna de Santa Rosa with the Laguna Foundation

David Bannister, the Laguna Foundation’s Executive Director, leads this kayak trip on the Laguna. Great birding! Peaceful to be out on the water during high-water season.
http://www.lagunafoundation.org/
https://www.facebook.com/LagunadeSantaRosaFoundation

https://www.facebook.com/tony.mcguigan.92
http://www.facebook.com/sporelore
https://www.facebook.com/HabitatItAndTheyWillCome
http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/author/tonymc/
https://twitter.com/sporelore
http://pinterest.com/habitatit/

Enjoy the wildlife habitat in YOUR community.

Tony

Feb 142014
 
Golden Crowned Sparrow in Tulip MagnoliaTwig Pile

Twisty Toad Tunnel is a hugelkultur wildlife habitat in our Northern California garden.  I severely pruned back a lichen-covered and overgrown tulip magnolia tree and stuffed the cut-down limbs, prunings, and cutting into The Bog — a hole in our garden where we make soil by winter and grow crops by summer.  Much of the magnolia cuttings are elegantly draped with lichens, surely a beneficial source of wildlife shelter and food for animals microscopic to crawling to larger.

The beginning of this post focuses on video installations of Twisty Toad Tunnel.

The last paragraph provides you with a link to learn more about Twisty Toad Tunnels’ rich lichen contribution to out wildlife habitat hugelkultur.

Installation of Twisty Toad Tunnel


Learn more about Twisty Toad Tunnels’ rich lichens

Today (the 14th) is my monthly blog post at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.  This month, my blog article discusses how lichens support wildlife habitat in our residential gardens.

Enjoy!  And please comment me under my NP & WG article if you have any comments or questions.

Tony

Oct 172013
 
Harlequin Bug on impatiens flower stalk

I have a paper to write, so I procrastinated in the garden.  Was so fun meeting Harlequin Bug on a withered impatiens flower plant.

Harlequin Bug on impatiens flower stalk

Harlequin bug on impatiens flower stalk.

Enjoy your garden.  Habitat It!

Tony

Oct 112013
 
Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf -- pic 2

Through my Canon 50D and 180mm macro lens, I witnessed the following sequence of photos.  A male checkered white, ID’d by the sparse dark spots versus the female’s abundance of brown outline and spots, is approached by another male checkered white.  Note how the grounded butterfly’s abdomen is used to ward off the approaching male.

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf -- pic 1

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf -- pic 1

 

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf -- pic 2

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf approached by another male.

 

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf -- pic 3

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf fending off another male.

 

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf -- pic 4

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf approached by another male checkered butterfly.

 

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf -- pic 5

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf successfully fends off another male.

 

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf -- pic 6

Male checkered white butterfly on sunflower leaf at rest, again.

 

Enjoy your wildlife food forest garden.  Habitat It!

Tony

 

Aug 032013
 
Cozy Cottage Egg Farm 1st Egg
Cozy Cottage Egg Farm 1st Egg

Cozy Cottage Egg Farm's 1st egg, layed by our Bard Rock hen, Marmalade. The coins are used for relative size: a Norwegian 5 kroner coin and a U.S. quarter (25 cents) coin. The eggshell was very thin and split open in the coop. Still yummy out of the fry pan!

Cozy Cottage Egg Farm 1st egg was layed!

Watch the video:

 

 

Happy habitat food forest!

Tony

May 142013
 
Sambucas mexicana in Elderberry Pond wildlife habitat.

I posted my monthly blog article (due every 14th of the month) at Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens:

 

Sambucas mexicana in Elderberry Pond wildlife habitat.

Sambucas mexicana in Elderberry Pond wildlife habitat. Perhaps the cutting shrub propagation will be successful. The young shoots look promising.

 

Enjoy your wildlife garden.  Habitat It!

Tony