Our Favourite Did You Know Facts from The Garden Post
Since its launch in spring 2016, The Garden Post’s Did You Know column has covered many topics – from stormwater management to climate change to urban heat and more. Some of our most favourite articles focus on inspiring actions you can take to care for local birds, pollinators and other wildlife.
Birds: How Many Caterpillars Can a Chickadee Eat?
Our first Did You Know column described the significant relationship between black-capped chickadees, caterpillars and local plants, as researched by Dr. Doug Tallamy. Surprisingly, for one clutch of eggs to survive, parent chickadees must collect and feed their young between 6,000 and 9,000 caterpillars over about two weeks. Most of these caterpillars rely on locally native trees and shrubs that you can grow in your yard.
Over many issues of The Garden Post, we’ve shared tips for creating bird-friendly yards by planting native trees and shrubs for food and shelter, adding the right bird nest box for your property and tips on feeding birds through the winter.
Pollinators: The Importance of Host Plants
Another favourite topic of The Garden Post is the connection between pollinators and the plants they rely on. Trees are important for pollinators, especially those who are active in early spring. Butterflies and moths rely on host plants for survival. A well-known example of this is milkweed (butterfly milkweed, swamp milkweed and common milkweed) being the only plant that monarch caterpillars eat: no milkweed, no monarchs.
Wildlife: Wintertime Clues
One of our favourite joys is spotting animal tracks in the snow. Writing about gardens in winter can be tricky, but in 2019, we found inspiration in the tracks left by critters that call our yards home. For example, voles leave raised lines of snow behind as they tunnel to their destination. We don’t always see who has been visiting our gardens, but they sometimes leave us little clues, helping us to know who is nearby, and who we are helping out by fostering healthy landscapes.
Celebrating Our Favourite Tips, Facts and Plants
We’ve reached the 100th edition of The Garden Post! To celebrate this milestone, we’re sharing some of our favourite Did You Know facts, Caring for Your Yard tips and standout plants from the Plant of the Month column.