Directors: David Klatt, Brian Pasmore, Ben Van Heeswijk and Bob Wilson
Attendance:
Members: 11 including Blake Sheets
Guests: Rick Gray
Birthdays:
Anniversaries:
Meeting Date: Feb. 19th, 2024
Program: After the usual wonderful meal prepared by the ACW, Ron started the meeting by thanking the ladies in the kitchen.
1. Brian introduced his guest speaker Rick Gray speaking about his native plant garden.
Rick has been gardening since he was a kid, but since discovering native gardening in 2005, he has been immersed in the subject
Rick has a degree in natural resources management and a Master’s degree in environmental biology
After a varied career in Ontario and Manitoba, Rick retired to his ½ acre garden in Ridgetown where he has replaced all non-native plants with over 300 species of native ones
Apparently all Rick ever talks about is growing native plants, with “Grow it and they will come”
Rick gave us several reason why it is important to grow them in our gardens
Habitat loss due to climate change and competition from invasive plants and other species has caused a loss of species
Gray said native plants are essential to the environment, namely to the bird, butterfly and moth populations
He talked about why caterpillars are so important - they are high in protein and easily digestible for young birds – it takes 5-6000 caterpillars to raise one nest of chickadees - the same will be true for most of our songbirds
There are 30000 pairs of bluebirds nesting in Ontario, so that’s a total of 180 M caterpillars consumed by bluebirds alone in Ontario and we have over 300 species of birds breeding in Ontario
N. America has lost 3B birds over the past 50 years
He also stressed the need to not cut or rake or mulch our lawns in the fall
There are 150000 ha of turf grass in ON, most of which provides little or not food for insects that are necessary for our birds
No insects means no birds, mammals or fish - it also means no bees to pollinate our flowers and food plants
Rick noted that 90% of insects only develop on plants for which they share an evolutionary history - in other words, native plants
Growing native plants helps bees, butterflies, moths, flies and beetles
Feed birds by growing fruit and berries, which can also provide food for the kitchen
Ontario has 11 species of milkweed that are necessary for our monarch butterflies, and very few birds eat them
There are 127 types of butterflies in S Ont with 110 overwintering here
6 as adults, 12 as eggs, 30 in a chrysalis and the rest as caterpillars
Raking up leaves in the fall can certainly mean dead caterpillars
Fireflies also need forest litter and rotting wood for larvae
A native plant is one that evolved here, ie pre-European; wildflowers may or may not be native
An invasive species is an introduced (i.e. not native) that spreads aggressively and harms the environment
There are lots of native species of plants, birds and animals
Take home message: If we want to have birds, and if we want to have food, we need to provide food and habitat for all the insects that make up the base of the food chain - we need to plant native flowers and grasses in our gardens (instead of or in addition to our other flowers). If possible, we should aim for at least 70% native species.
There is much information on Facebook and other sites on the internet
To see where you can get native plants, go to www.nativeplant gardener.ca
Rick has a map there with an abundance of folks who sell native plants
Rick and Shaun Booth have also written a new book called The Gardner’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region, available at bookstores and online
It has a wonderful number of photographs, tables and a common name index
It’s index number is 9780228104605
Rick presented much more information than I have here so check out the resources I have listed
2. Ron: A reminder that tonight is the final night to hand in the polls on filling the vacant positions
Lots of interesting comments
We will discuss them on Apr. 1st, with Ron taking Jeff’s date
Correspondence:
1. Paul: Request from students at RDHS going to Europe
Paul will talk to Ms. Budd and explain why we won’t be donating anything
2. Paul: Request from the East Kent Celebrates for money for this summer’s concerts
Ron will send out the letter by email for members to consider
Committees:
1 Ron: Pancake Breakfast on Mar. 23, 2024
Report on the meeting of a small committee Monday, Feb 12th at 7:00 pm
Posters have been prepared and everything is in order
2. Ron: Pole for Peace Meeting
Nothing new
3. Paul: Adventure in Citizenship/RYLA
AIC is all set; Paul met with Skylar and her parents to discuss the travel
No RYLA students yet; Deb R at RDHS is still trying to get two students
President Ron asked if there was “Anything for the good of Rotary?”
Ron closed the meeting at 8:18 pm
The next meeting is on: Mar. 4th, 2024: David Klatt presents Kristina Schofer on RYLA via ZOOM
l-r: President Ron Bolohan, Rotarian Brian Pasmore and Rick Gray
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