Recent SPI Gardens News

The turnout at the 2007 Winter Wildlife Expo at the Convention Center was a success. Our SPI Gardens booth didn't get a ton of traffic, although we did have the Unlitter folks over there (Sandy Feet, Amazing Water, and Christy) to make a REAL video. Thanks to all who stopped by! Those Saturn Street Strummer sure can rock.

One of our concepts was to help revegetate the dunes and if created, that "continuous dune line" is built. It is pretty much a fact that dunes with heavy vegetation and root growth hold the dunes together longer, and plus the flowers and greenery looks nice. This needs to be done before the hot season, so if anyone knows of any expertise, free plants, and quick ideas please let us know.

I did raise the issue of whether we wanted another Arbor Day Plant Swap this spring. Nancy was unsure, so I think it might be time to see what the locals and plant masters want to do ... if folks want to do it, you have to admit the events were fun, low-stress, and you always got something to take home - or you could ditch some stuff this is neat but no longer wanted as much.

Meanwhile I'm still watching the three Yellow Sapphora plants in the vacant field next door, and am in contact in case they ever sell the lot. It might be considered common but I haven't seen ANY on the Island aside from these three babies. There are some ... just not that I've seen.

Bayside native planting is also becoming a topic of interest, since a bunch of these street endings on the bayside will soon be getting two large concrete planter pots, instead of those ugly old wooden barricades. Of course, this cased a major rebellion because different people's concept of native low plants can differ so radically. The upside is that the Town is considering an "Adopt a Street Ending" program that sounds really nifty, and could us our help.

Remember, the spring bird migration could result in more than one Fall-Out, so be ready with the seeds, citrus for the Orioles, and even sugar water for the energy-starved birds. We used to hanf out suet sometimes but that was in a previous life up North. Please do not prune or cut bushes and trees until after the Fall-out is over. We need to start promoting this in our backyards because so much wildland is being developed on the Island, and so many beautiful birds die here and become feral cat bait (a problem on this Island). Please help out birds, hummers, and butterflies northward this spring.

Back on the Gulf side, the Adopt a Street Ending concept also works for beach access points. Some, including some bayside locations, could become official Butterfly Weigh Stations if we register some national thing-a-ma-jiggy. There is so much to talk about and do before the sun turns on the Bake Cycle in later Spring. Of course, we'd like to drum up some support for dune seeding using real plants, not some dead old Christmas trees.

See you on the Island,
Sam Wells