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Hey there fella… what’s your name? You have big hind legs… shall I call you “Jumper?” “No,” the critter replies… “Those days are over for me. Oh to be a nymph again!” Well how about “Chomper?” You appetite for greenery is doing a number on my lily plants. “Sorry ‘bout that… a grasshoppers’ gotta do what a grasshoppers’ gotta do to survive.” Okay… well move along and we’ll see you next year.  Lubber nymphs are usually very lethargic and easily handpicked. Their black coloration makes them look like a different species than the adult stage. These beautiful colorful creatures usually show up in my garden in the Spring. Their population is small so I tolerate them; for the sake of a few chewed leaves, we can easily coexist. Lubber grasshoppers (Romalea microptera) are native to Florida and the Southeastern U.S. including North and South Carolina, Georgia, and west through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, to central Texas. Adult Lubber grasshoppers are primarily yellow with orange and red markings. The juvenile nymph (immature) grasshoppers look totally different than the adults, and are almost completely black with a red stripe. Adults attain a large size, males measuring 1-1/2” - 2” inches length and females often measuring 2” - 3-1/2” inches.  These grasshoppers were exterminated while doing their thing in a natural park area. Why? Lubber is derived from an old English word which means lazy or clumsy. Juveniles are more nimble and will jump away if approached. The adult grasshopper is a very poor jumper, and is usually seen walking, or climbing to feed on foliage at the tips of branches. They have wings, but cannot fly. Since the adults basically sit on the leaf, even when approached, it is easy to lift them off the plant by pinching their two hind legs between your thumb and index finger. You can then relocate the critter to a place where it can do no further damage to your plants. Unfortunately for the Lubber grasshopper, most people’s first reaction when they see one is of terror. Jurassic monster!!! Dinosaur war!!! Exterminate it!!!  Portrait of an adult Lubber Grasshopper. Photo by Linda Adams  Closeup view of the Adult Lubber Grasshopper head I can understand that grasshoppers are disliked by farmers because huge swarms can wipe out a farmer’s crop. Farmers care more about feeding people than insects, so In this case it may be appropriate for the farmer to use chemicals to prevent crop loss and economic hardship. Grasshoppers have few natural enemies. Their bright colorful pattern is believed to be a warning to predators that they are not palatable. In the home landscape grasshoppers can be seen early in the morning and in late afternoon feeding in flower beds, defoliating amaryllis, crinum and other lilies, oleander, butterfly weed, canna, Mexican petunia and lantana. Their veggie garden preference includes lettuce, kale, peas, beans and cabbage. So I get it! So how can we be humane while dealing with these critters in trying to salvage your home garden? You can hand pick and relocate. Another more final solution is handpicking and placing in a bag to be then placed in the freezer.  Caught in the act of chomping on lily foliage In general, these critters do not kill plants. What they chew on will return. For example, at a local nature park I frequent, I was shocked to see dozens of dead adult Lubber grasshoppers lying in the flower beds. This is a native, natural garden. It is non-manicured. So what harm is there to co-existing with a few grasshoppers? They are amazingly beautiful.
How could anyone kill such a beautiful species? Pay attention young grasshopper. Act with knowledge and compassion. Though man is the king of the jungle and can do what he pleases, carefully consider the fate of the grasshopper in the home and natural landscape. There is a reason for the grasshoppers’ existence, otherwise would it have been created?
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The Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a year-round resident in the Florida Keys. It is one of the most familiar birds, even to those who struggle to identify bird species. Even if you say, look at the “red bird” you are partially right, as the Northern cardinal is commonly known as red cardinal, common cardinal or simply cardinal. In the year 1883 there was a community in North Key Largo called “Red Bird City,” named after the colorful birds. Though it cannot be found on any maps, it was a few miles up CR-905 from the intersection of US-1 near the current Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. The Pinder and Russell families had more than 300 acres there, and earned their living by farming and fishing, and by the vocation of catching and selling cardinals. They would capture the red birds, send them by boat to Key West, where there would be shipped to Cuba, where songbirds were in demand as caged pets.  A bright red cardinal provides striking contrast from its vibrant green perch. Historically, cardinals ranged from the Gulf to New York, southern Ontario and Iowa. Partly due to the proliferation of bird feeders, their range has shifted north to Maine, to Minnesota and southwest to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona, southern California and south through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Red cardinals are here year round, but it is their nature to be elusive at times. Unlike the mockingbird and the blue jays who will let you pass within yards of them, the cardinal always has a watchful eye out for intruders, and flits away when approached.  Cardinals prefer early morning and late evening. Place food on a seed table near the cover of shrubbery in your backyard.  The male cardinal is unmistakable for its bright red feathers and pointed crest on its head.  A female cardinal makes short work of a black sunflower seed with its strong, thick beak which is perfect for large seeds. European settlers arriving in our country were reminded of the Roman Catholic bishops by the bird’s crest, resembling the bishops headgear and red color resembling the red vestments of the church. The unmistakable bright red plumage of the male cardinal is from their food. They eat seeds and grains, but they also eat insects and a variety of fruits. The female is duller, but also has a crest, and a pink bill.  When cardinals appear to you, it usually means nothing but goodness for you and your beloved, with their lifelong partnership suggesting a strong, unwavering bond. Their coloration is not all that makes a cardinal a spiritual reference. These birds have often symbolized heavenly visitors, or even a sign from a deceased loved one. A friend of mine received a large sack of sunflower seeds from a friend in memory of her husband's passing. She thought it unusual since she doesn’t feed the birds. Perhaps her friend should have included a note with the gift containing the cardinal's favorite food explaining her symbolic intent: the appearance of a cardinal is meant to show us that we are not alone. There is the rhyme “Cardinals appear when Angels are near.” The Cardinal’s Call When the cardinal sings its song I fee a tug at my heart A reminder of the love we shared Even though we are apart Its red feathers like a beacon Guiding me through the night A sign that you are with me still In spirit and in light Anonymous  Cardinals are private birds that favor dense tangles. Cardinals are private birds that prefer thick foliage with lots of trees and shrubs. In Spring and Summer they are extra protective of their nests, especially against intruders and other males. The blue jay is a major predator of cardinal chicks and eggs, as are squirrels, hawks, crows, owls, snakes, iguana and domestic cats. A word of caution: If you have bird feeders or spread seeds, avoid scattering near low shrubs and anywhere else that predators may hide and attack from. If you have pets that go outdoors, keep them away from cardinal nesting and feeding grounds. Both male and female cardinals tend to the chicks in the nest, and pairs of cardinals form life-long bonds and remain together for consecutive breeding seasons. Cardinals are a symbol of devotion and loyalty.  Late summer, a male cardinal missing feathers during molting. On a recent photo assignment I was to capture the moment when a man proposed marriage to the love of his life. Awkward at best is how I describe my role as paparazzi. So as I await hiding in plain sight with my camera and long lens, I notice a red cardinal on a branch above the path leading to the beach where he would propose. Moments later the couple walked down that same path. What a positive sign, especially for a couple embarking on a lifelong partnership. She said yes! I love happy beginnings!
When it rains the birds remain hunkered under cover in dense brush, but as soon as it clears they out in search of food. At the first sign of good weather I put sunflower seeds on the seed table and soon the hungry cardinals reappear. The return of the cardinal is a sign for new beginnings… and I’ll embrace that thought every time. “No shoes, no shirt, no problems” to quote a Kenny Chesney song rather sums up how summer feels in the Keys. Besides that, wearing no shoes connects us with the earth. My friend says barefoot walking in the grass allows the wifi waves we absorb from our electronic devices to leave our body. Hmmm… I’ll go with that.  Honeybee on dill flower. Herbs and other edibles are a great addition to a pollinator garden. While musing on the benefits of barefoot walking… Yoweee… a sharp stabbing pain emanates from my big toe. I must have just gotten stung by a bee! Not to worry, I’m not allergic to bees, just a bit of pain now, some swelling later on. There is an old saying that beekeepers never have arthritis since bee venom has anti-inflammatory properties. Guess it is my lucky day… you can create a positive spin on anything. Ironically I got stung while walking in the future site of a butterfly and pollinator garden… a suddenly sunny patch in my front yard created by the removal of a dead tree. It’s a perfect space for a pollinator/butterfly garden, whose plants require 6+ hours of sun per day. The more sun, the more active the garden will be.  The Spanish moth is attracted to members of the spider lily family, chewing on leaves, bulbs and rhizomes. Though butterflies are the poster children of pollinator gardening, birds, bats, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, small mammals and bees can all be pollinators. They visit flowers to drink nectar or feed from the pollen, then move pollen between male and female plants, fertilizing the flower’s eggs, which then produce seeds to create a new generation. Pick a site where there is well drained soil, and access to water to establish and maintain the plants, and for the pollinators to drink… a saucer filled with stones and water will do. Choose plants that attract pollinators, selecting plants with different colors and shapes, that will bloom during different months, to provide for a year round habitat.  When we think of bees, we think of the European honey bee that nests in beehive colonies. At the other end of the spectrum, native bees are solitary nesters, that build their nests inside available nesting holes. Mason bees love tubular homes. Leafcutter bees snip bits of leaves to line their nests. Carpenter bees carve their nests out of wood. Paper wasps build umbrella shaped nests that hang underneath limbs or on your home’s facia. Like all living things, pollinators need a place to rest and some might appreciate a little house. Building a pollinator house is a creative project utilizing recycled materials such as scraps of wood and dead bamboo stalks. They are called pollinator houses because pollinators visit them, but they are actually pollinator nurseries, because solitary bees use the holes for a place to deposit their eggs. The bee selects a perfect sized hole, typically around 3/8,” then collects pollen and nectar to place in the tube, on which she lays one egg on top of the mixture. The eggs hatch and the larva eat the pollen mixture. When the time is right the larva pupate, and remain in that state until the following spring, when they emerge to start the process over again. So worth it! Plant the plants, attract the pollinators, provide food and housing for them, and the cycle continues. My initial choice of plants may not be perfect, but with observation, adjustments and time, the garden will become a thing of beauty.  Pollinator house with blocks of wood attached and a few bamboo stalks. The house is taking shape! Here’s how I am planning the garden: since sun is a very important factor, I want to make sure that no plant gets too large to shade out any area. A good rule of thumb is to select one tree, two shrubs, one vine, and three wildflowers or grasses for a small garden. If more room is available, increase the number of plants at the same ratio. Plant in groupings for the most impact, and to reduce the appearance of leaf damage when the caterpillars are munching. Think about what will bring you the most joy… and plant with that in mind. Hummingbirds are attracted to the tubular flowers of the following plants: Red firespike, Pineapple sage, Purple passionflower vine, Aloe vera, Firebush, Necklacepod, Coral honeysuckle vine, Bahama strongbark (tree) and Little strongbark (small tree or shrub). Bees like Sunshine mimosa, Portulaca, African blue basil, Purple passionflower, Necklacepod, Fiddlewood, Greenheart, Soldierwood, and Star jasmine vine. Butterflies like Pentas (pink, red or white are most appealing), Sunshine mimosa, Butterfly weed (Asclepius tuberose is native), Giant milkwood, Corky stemmed passionflower, Bahama cassia, Beautyberry, Blue porterweed, Jatropha, Plumbago, Scorpiontail, Wild sage, Zinnia, Sunflowers, Red firespike, Balloon vine, and Purple passionflower to name a few. The Key West morning glory (Skyblue clustervine) attracts the sphinx moth. For birds you want plants that produce fruit such as Shiny leaf wild coffee, Satinleaf, Soldierwood, Bahama Strongbark, Little Strongbark, and Beautyberry.  Close up view of the pollinator house before hanging. Thanks Denise! for the cute plastic bee decoration. The above plant suggestions are natives/or friendly additions for the Florida Keys, which is Zone 11. They are low maintenance once established, have fewer pests and diseases and the native pollinators will flock to your yard. Don’t be a member of the more-dollars-than-sense crowd who would rather throw money at a problem than understand the root cause. Board-spectrum insecticides should never be used. They kill a large group of insects, including good pollinators as well  Finished pollinator box hanging on a tree at driveway entrance, welcoming friends and critters to our wildlife habitat. |
CAROL ELLIS
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