As of yesterday, I have completed my first week at Stan Hwyet. It's been an absolute blast! I'm exhausted and slightly sunburned but I've learned a lot and gotten to dig in dirt, so I'm a happy camper.
I started my week on Tuesday at 9 in the morning. Once I tracked down Joe (the greenhouse manager), I was given a tour of the facilities, given gloves and met some of the other volunteers. At this point I was shown to the butterfly habitat and began weeding. My time was mostly spent on pulling up common weeds like dandelions as well as the common milkweed that had decided to adventure outside of the beds and into the path.
I started my week on Tuesday at 9 in the morning. Once I tracked down Joe (the greenhouse manager), I was given a tour of the facilities, given gloves and met some of the other volunteers. At this point I was shown to the butterfly habitat and began weeding. My time was mostly spent on pulling up common weeds like dandelions as well as the common milkweed that had decided to adventure outside of the beds and into the path.
Milkweed is a necessity in an Ohio butterfly Garden. The flowers are unique and complex, and the plant is the main food source for Monarch butterfly larvae. In addition to the larvae, the adult monarchs as well as other native bees and butterflies use milkweed as a nectar source. As the sap of the plant is toxic, milkweed also acts as a repellant to some pests.
I had a duh moment in the butterfly habitat today. As I was wrapping up the hose I knocked into some milkweeds, pinching the stem and some leaves, I noticed a white, milky looking substance running down the plant, hence the name, MILKweed. This sap, while toxic to many organisms, is not a problem for monarch caterpillars, who happily munch on the leaves for their entire larvalhood. The toxic component of the plant (cardiac glycosides) is absorbed into the insect, which makes them poisonous to many predators.
There was another plant that had escaped the beds and needed dealt with; Fennel. This is one of the few edible to human plants that is featured in the habitat. It is recognizable by it's distinctive licorice scent. Fennel is the a favorite of Black Swallowtail butterflies and their larvae (Parsley worms). This plant is not native to Ohio and so it's status in the garden is questionable. It is not listed as an invasive species, but based on my experience I'd say it spreads like wildfire and could get out of hand quickly.
I'll follow this post up with an update on my project assignment in the next few days!