The Green Queens jericho.s_r Jericho High School DAY 12 GREENER BIO DIVERSITY

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1 The Green Queens jericho.s_r Jericho High School DAY 12 GREENER BIO DIVERSITY

2 Our Dream Garden

3 Our 12 Native Plants False White Indigo- These are beneficial because not only are they native to our area, but they are also pollinator friendly for butterflies! Purple Giant Hyssop- honey bees and native bees Indian Hemp: good for long-tongued and shorttongued bees, Sphecid wasps, butterflies, skippers, and various kinds of flies. Geranium maculatum-wild Geranium: A Juvenal s duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis) feeds on it Asclepias Tuberosa - Also known as butterfly milkweed, the bright flowers attract butterflies and are pollinator friendly. This plant can also be used as a nesting place for butterflies, especially monarch butterflies. Lobelia cardinalis- Cardinal Flower: beneficial to hummingbirds and butterflies.

4 Our 12 Native Plants Acer rubrum- Red Maples attract bees when they are budding late spring. The bees attain copious amounts of pollen, from the flowers that bloom on the branches of the maple trees, and spread it. Sambucus canadensis- Common Elderberry attracts flies, bees, beetles. It is an important nectar source for these pollinators. Monarda fistulosa- Wild Bergamot- Very high pollinator value. Value to Beneficial Insects- bee flies, butterflies, skippers, hummingbirds moths, and bees Solidago nemoralis- Gray Goldenrod- a pretty yellow flower that blooms from August through October. Value to Beneficial Insects- bees, short-tongued bees, Sphecid and Vespid wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, and beetles Vaccinium spp.- Blueberries - Blueberries rely on native bees to pollinate them. Without the bees, blueberry plants could die out and reduce biodiversity in our ecosystem. Symphyotrichum spp. - Aster - This flower gives room for butterflies to land and perch on allowing them to rest. Bees and beetles are also primary pollinators of this flower.

5 Garden Equipment Wheelbarrow Hand Trowel Shovel Pesticide Alternatives Crop rotation Create a DIY organic pesticide! NEEM: To make your own neem oil spray, add 1/2 an ounce of high-quality organic neem oil and ½ teaspoon of a mild organic liquid soap (I use Dr. Bronners Peppermint) to two quarts of warm water. Stir slowly. Add to a spray bottle and use immediately. Mineral Oil: Mix ml of high-grade oil with one liter of water. Stir and add to spray bottle. This organic pesticide works well for dehydrating insects and their eggs. Soap, Orange Citrus Oil, and Water: To make this natural pesticide, simply mix three tablespoons of liquid Organic Castile soap with 1 ounce of Orange oil to one gallon of water. Shake well. This is an especially effective treatment against slugs and can be sprayed directly on ants and roaches.

6 Water Conservation Use gray water- The term gray water refers to untreated wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, laundry sinks, and washing machines. This water typically runs down the drain to fill your septic system, but when properly stored and filtered, gray water can be diverted for use in irrigation. This is eco-friendly and saves money as well! Rain Barrel- A rain barrel can collect all of the excess rain that is usually dripping down your roof and put it to a good use for gardening, saving water! Drip Irrigation: Water is delivered directly to the root zone of plants, eliminating runoff and losses through evaporation.

7 BIODIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT! Global biodiversity has declined 50% in the past 40 years. Over 30% of species are considered threatened with extinction! We have been losing species due to our carelessness and disregard.deforestation and other human actions are responsible. Our lives are at risk if we don t put a stop to this because eco-systems can t function. Spread the word to help promote biodiversity.

8 SAVE THE POLLINATORS! Loss of biodiversity is harming pollinators. Pollinators, which are bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, are the most vital organisms on the planet. Why? Because they allow the fruits and vegetables we eat to grow and thrive. For every three bites of food, bees and pollinators are responsible. But 40% of these pollinators are becoming extinct. Bees are dying, losing 42.1% of their hives, thanks to pesticides and chemicals. Let s put an end to this.

9 Taking Action We took action by signing Friends of the Earth's campaign to protect our pollinators!!