There are few creatures on the planet that are more beautiful, eternal, and delicate than the butterfly. They flit lightly through the air, sipping the sweet nectar from many varieties of colorful plants, and emit a timeless magnificence and elegance. These striking creatures inspire a wide variety of Butterfly Gifts that continue to remind everyone of their presence, enjoying life.

Artwork

In many regions of Africa, the local natives collect the wings of the dead butterflies they find on the ground, and use to create stunning scenes with a mosaic of the wings. In making these pictures, the native use 100% real butterfly wings that arranged into pictures of animals, birds, scenery, and people representing the striking aspects of native African culture. This is a popular way of preserving the beauty of the butterflies, and providing the indigenous people an income.

Framed Art

A most popular use of butterflies is in framed art. The butterflies are raised in butterfly farms in tropical locations, ensuring an income for the original people, and helping protect the rain forests. They are gently mounted in either a Riker mount, styrene case, or airtight acrylic cube; allowing them to be displayed on a wall or shelf. A framed butterfly is a great gift for people of all ages.

Books

Whether just beginning to appreciate the beauty of the butterfly, or a seasoned collector, there is an abundance of books on butterflies. They range from methods of identifying the different species, ways of attracting the butterflies, and finding and growing plants most popular used to attract the butterflies. There are many helpful books illustrating these creatures, as well as ones that facilitate the beginner in planting a successful butterfly garden.

Feeders

For many people who are horticulturally-impaired, a butterfly feeder may be the perfect solution to attract and feed a variety of butterfly species. Most of the feeders contain up to 12 ounces of nectar, and can be hung or mounted on a stand. Many of these feeders accommodate the butterfly’s favorite fruits as well, such as bananas, peaches, cantaloupes, and watermelons and many are built to be bee and wasp-proof.

Butterfly Habitats

A Butterfly Pavilion is perfectly suited for young entomologists to successfully raise butterflies. These are lightweight and sturdy, and allow the enthusiast to witness the entire lifecycle of the butterfly from larvae, to caterpillar, to stunning adult butterfly. They are built with a see through mesh and are equipped with a zipper for feeding and watering the inhabitants. These are specifically recommended for classroom environments, and others who appreciate the beauty of the butterflies and are enthusiastic in raising them.

Overall, an abundance of gifts allow people to appreciate the beauty of butterflies, and include framed and mounted butterflies, as well as ones used to create stunning mosaics of animals, birds, native people, and scenery. Many books on butterflies are published and available for both the novice entomologist and the experienced connoisseur. Habitats, feeders, and a variety of other Butterfly Gifts are available for butterfly enthusiasts of all ages.

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Author advices on why you should buy butterfly gifts. parents can gift them to their kids to raise interest in nature.

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Rain Gardens, an Easy Way to Save Your Corner of the Planet

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Home Page > Home Improvement > Gardening > Rain Gardens, an Easy Way to Save Your Corner of the Planet

Rain Gardens, an Easy Way to Save Your Corner of the Planet

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Rain Gardens, an Easy Way to Save Your Corner of the Planet

By: Steve Hoogenakker

About the Author

Steve Hoogenakker

Showcase Landscape

Steve Hoogenakker has 20 years in the landscaping and leadership field. He can be reached by email at Steve@Landscape.Pro.

Steve Hoogenakker, MHA, CAI, CIC Midwest, MNLA, PLANET, MTGF, Showcase Landscape, Minnesota. Delano, Minnesota

(ArticlesBase SC #716184)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Rain Gardens, an Easy Way to Save Your Corner of the Planet

The Raingarden: Your easy contribution to cleaner water

By Steve Hoogenakker, Showcase Landscape.

Many folks are not aware that the rain that runs to our storm sewers does not go to the municipal plant for treatment. It used to, but as growing communities increased pressure on treatment plants, cities nationwide disconnected storm sewers and routed them directly to the nearest lake or stream. In Minnesota, pride in our natural resources is strong, and residents are willing and eager to do their part to protect water quality.

Raingardens are a fabulous way for Homeowners and Townhome Owners to protect water quality. It is a garden or landscaped area with a very slight depression (usually 6-8 inches). A raingarden is designed to capture stormwater from rooftops, driveways and even streets, allowing it to soak into the ground along the deep root channels of beautiful plants (some native and some conventional).

Some of the benefits to CICs include an aesthetically appealing landscape feature, increased bird and butterfly activity, and credit for reduction of stormwater -which some cities are beginning to charge fees for! The list of benefits to the environment is long.

The current system of storm sewer pipes contributes largely to flooding and poor water quality in all water bodies. The water runs off so fast, our natural systems cannot absorb it. Prior to urbanization, stormwater soaked into the ground. Some of it made it all the way down to aquifers and some of it flowed slowly and laterally through the ground to lakes and streams. By the time rainwater reached a surface water, it was scrubbed clean by soil and microbes and cooled to the temperature that fish and other aquatic critters enjoy. Gutters and pipes allow over-heated stormwater to flush all the pollutants that collect on impervious surfaces to water bodies that are not able to treat or absorb the impurities nor are they able to accept the sheer volume – leading to serious flooding. Raingardens begin to repair the natural mechanism that slows, cleans and cools stormwater.

What about all the stormwater ponds that CICs have, aren’t those meant to protect water quality? The quick answer is, yes, they were originally intended as an answer to the Clean water Act mandate that stormwater be treated on site in new construction over five acres. They do keep stormwater and pollutants out of local lakes and streams, unfortunately they merely collect and concentrate those pollutants. They, just like natural ponds, do not have the capacity to treat stormwater. In addition they often become eyesores.

To intercept the stormwater that is piped directly into storm ponds (and would not be served by a buffer), raingardens can be installed in the path of down spouts and near the curb with curb cuts. These curbside raingardens allow water from streets to flow into the garden. They are designed to over flow back into the street if their capacity is exceeded, not into the lawn. All raingardens are designed to be dry within 24-36 hours after a storm to keep mosquitoes from breeding in them. Mosquito larvae need seven to twelve days of standing, stagnant water to mature. Raingardens actually act as ‘traps’ when mosquitoes lay eggs in them and the water drops since they cannot mature! In contrast, raingardens provide vital habitat for many desirable critters like birds and butterflies.

The city of Burnsville recently studied the effectiveness of raingardens. They installed 17 residential raingardens to capture street and roof runoff and measured an 82% reduction in runoff in 2004! They measured a 90% reduction in 2005 and a 93% reduction in 2006- illustrating that as the plants mature (and the root structures create more channels) the infiltration rate increases! The city of Maplewood has actively employed raingardens in city street reconstruction projects for over 10 years! Cities across the country are embracing simple raingardens to address serious stormwater problems including Kansas City, MO (with its 10,000 raingarden program launched in 20060, Portland OR and Chicago IL. The ‘ground work’ has been laid and practitioners have learned how to make raingardens work and look beautiful!

With both raingardens and shoreline plantings, proper plant selection and installation and maintenance are critical to their success. There is a wide pallet of colors and textures that will tolerate the water fluctuations common to these landscapes. Raingardens can be designed to be virtually indistinguishable from conventional gardens and landscapes while performing an important community service! Be sure to consult a contractor that is familiar with native plants and shorelines when pursuing projects like these.

Even if raingardens and ponds are not part of your landscape, a native garden can achieve environmental goals and can be incorporated into any plan. A simple butterfly garden can bring bright bold colors and delightful wildlife to an outdoor living space. They require less water and no fertilizers or weekly mowing and in that way, conserve water and other resources as well as protect water quality!

If your CIC is searching for ways to help the environment, they need not look far. Take a close look at how stormwater is ‘treated’ in your community as ask, ’is there a better way?’.

Steve Hoogenakker is landscape consultant/contractor with 20 years experience working with cic properties and can be reached at 763-213-2410 or Steve@Landscape.Pro. This article can be reprinted as long as all Steve’s contact information is included in the article.

Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/rain-gardens-an-easy-way-to-save-your-corner-of-the-planet-716184.html”

(ArticlesBase SC #716184)

Steve Hoogenakker –
About the Author:

Steve Hoogenakker

Showcase Landscape

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Article Tags:
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How To Maintain A Water Garden or Ecosystem Pond

Learn how to Maintain A Water Garden or Ecosystem Pond. Visit our website for more videos, tips, and information on building and maintaining water gardens at http://www.aquascapeinc.com (04:28)

Building a Water Garden – Garden Girl TV

Patti, the Garden Girl, builds a water garden in one of her raised beds. Distributed by Tubemogul. (03:25)

How to Build a Water Garden

Patti, the Garden Girl, builds a water garden in one of her raised beds. (03:25)

What To Look For In A Backyard Water Garden

Dave talks with Tom Frost of MetroWest Water Gardens about plants that do well in ponds. (02:42)

Building a Raised Bed Water Garden

Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl, installs a pond inside a raised bed in her garden.

For more info: www.gardengirltv.com or www.urbansustainableliving.com Distributed by Tubemogul. (03:26)

Homemade Greenhouses to Assist Your Garden Production

A tailor-made greenhouse is probably something every gardener or vegetable farmer dreams he had. The genius concept of artificially creating an optimal environment for plant growth is something that has been known to be around since the Roman era. Of course, we may think of greenhouse construction as simply throwing up a frame and stretching some see-through plastic sheeting over it, but there’s more to it than just that.

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Rain Gardens, an Easy Way to Save Your Corner of the Planet

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YOUR LANDSCAPE – WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW COULD KILL MILLIONS

That’s right. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for millions of living organisms. You’re the “Jack Bauer” of the show “24” protecting millions of innocent lives!Grass plants, ornamentals, trees, annual flowers and shrubs. Your decisions also affect insect and biotic populations. Most importantly, you’re in control of how your landscape affects you and your family personally. make the most of your living investment.

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Customer Service, Upside Down, Backwards and Green Side Down Part II

If you don’t love customer service, then DON’T do it. If you aren’t in LOVE with the idea of valuing people over nearly all else, then I suggest you hire someone who does.

If you aren’t good at this, and you hire someone who is passionate about it, you can double your profits, guaranteed

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Crucial conversations have a way of taking us off of our game. “Once we name the game, we can stop playing it.” If our goal is to get residency rates over 95% and we’re in disagreement about billboards, newspaper ads, or internet ads to get there, then the name of the game is “Residency rates over 95%.” If the other party says “You are wrong about the newspaper ads just like you were wrong about which landscaper you hired.” That’s a primal instinctive defense,

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lViews: 585

South High School Needs our Help! Glass and Rocks in the Football Field

I came across this article two weeks ago after hearing about it on KSTP AM Radio. Out of funding, South High School is in danger of injuring students. They want to make the High School experience a positive one, we think the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association MNLA along with it’s members can and will help.

Minneapolis South senior defensive end Zeke Shepherd plays on a football field with no lights, no electricity, no rest rooms, no ticket booth, no concession stand and no press box. He is not without shame.

By:
Steve Hoogenakkerl

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Oct 04, 2007

Easy Methods to Increase Productivity and Free Up Time for Family and Friends

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Sep 29, 2007

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