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Fuquay-Varina Garden Invites You To Join
The Fuquay-Varina Garden Clubs invites everyone interested in learning about gardening to come visit and join our club. We meet the third Thursday of each month from September to May at the Fuquay-Varina Women's Club on Ennis Street in Fuquay-Varina starting at 6 PM with a social gathering featuring sweet treats as shown above. If you are interested in learning more please contact either Curt Lunchick at [email protected] or Larry O'Neal at [email protected]
Zen Landscape Management
Our meeting on Thursday 15 October will have a presentation by Tom Joyce on Zen landscape management. So what is Zen landscape management and who is Tom Joyce?
Zen landscape management isn't something you do once and check off a list.
It's a philosophy, one that can guide how you care for a garden of any size, from a small backyard to a corporate campus. Explore the philosophy, see how IPM fits into it naturally: observing closely, accepting a little imperfection, and stepping in only when it truly matters. Let's rethink gardening as something other than labor and start seeing it as a practice worth
looking forward to.
Tom is a North Carolina native who has moved back to our area from Williamsburg, VA. For more than 40 years, Tom has had the privilege of working in every facet of horticulture—from landscape design and installation to the long-term care and stewardship of gardens and landscapes. His career has included work with Colonial Williamsburg, as well as commercial, residential, and historic properties, where he has focused on combining horticultural excellence with practical, sustainable gardening practices. What he enjoys most, however, is sharing that knowledge with fellow gardeners. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just discovering the joy of plants, his presentations are designed to be
informative, engaging, and full of practical ideas you can take home and use in your own landscape.
Please join us for an informative learning experience.
Where Have All The Butterflies Gone?
Have you noticed that there are less butterflies around now then there were this spring or last year. There is a reason and they need your help now. It is the severe to extreme drought that we have been experiencing.
Butterflies can disappear or suffer severe population declines during droughts like we are experiencing in North Carolina. Adult butterflies are relatively small and don't hold much moisture, they easily dry out in prolonged dry hot conditions. Butterflies do not completely disappear during droughts in North Carolina, but their numbers decline significantly. Dry conditions stunt the growth of host plants (like milkweed for monarchs) and reduce nectar flowers, forcing butterflies to migrate to wetter areas or enter a resting state known as diapause.
How Droughts Affect Butterflies in NC
The Broader Picture in North Carolina
Even in ideal conditions, North Carolina butterflies face pressures from habitat loss. In recent years, annual butterfly counts—such as those monitored by the Charlotte Urban Institute—have recorded significant drops in both the number of individual butterflies and the total number of species. Localized catastrophes like hurricanes or severe heat waves coupled with region-wide dry spells contribute to these low counts.
What You Can Do
To help local populations survive dry spells, consider making your yard more resilient.
Butterfly mud is a great way to provide our butterflies with a moisture source. To create a butterfly mud puddle (or "puddler"), mix sand or soil with water, composted manure, and a pinch of non-iodized salt. This creates a nutrient-rich, moist patch that attracts male butterflies. They visit these areas to absorb essential salts and minerals that flower nectar lacks.
Materials Needed
The Fuquay-Varina Garden Clubs invites everyone interested in learning about gardening to come visit and join our club. We meet the third Thursday of each month from September to May at the Fuquay-Varina Women's Club on Ennis Street in Fuquay-Varina starting at 6 PM with a social gathering featuring sweet treats as shown above. If you are interested in learning more please contact either Curt Lunchick at [email protected] or Larry O'Neal at [email protected]
Zen Landscape Management
Our meeting on Thursday 15 October will have a presentation by Tom Joyce on Zen landscape management. So what is Zen landscape management and who is Tom Joyce?
Zen landscape management isn't something you do once and check off a list.
It's a philosophy, one that can guide how you care for a garden of any size, from a small backyard to a corporate campus. Explore the philosophy, see how IPM fits into it naturally: observing closely, accepting a little imperfection, and stepping in only when it truly matters. Let's rethink gardening as something other than labor and start seeing it as a practice worth
looking forward to.
Tom is a North Carolina native who has moved back to our area from Williamsburg, VA. For more than 40 years, Tom has had the privilege of working in every facet of horticulture—from landscape design and installation to the long-term care and stewardship of gardens and landscapes. His career has included work with Colonial Williamsburg, as well as commercial, residential, and historic properties, where he has focused on combining horticultural excellence with practical, sustainable gardening practices. What he enjoys most, however, is sharing that knowledge with fellow gardeners. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just discovering the joy of plants, his presentations are designed to be
informative, engaging, and full of practical ideas you can take home and use in your own landscape.
Please join us for an informative learning experience.
Where Have All The Butterflies Gone?
Have you noticed that there are less butterflies around now then there were this spring or last year. There is a reason and they need your help now. It is the severe to extreme drought that we have been experiencing.
Butterflies can disappear or suffer severe population declines during droughts like we are experiencing in North Carolina. Adult butterflies are relatively small and don't hold much moisture, they easily dry out in prolonged dry hot conditions. Butterflies do not completely disappear during droughts in North Carolina, but their numbers decline significantly. Dry conditions stunt the growth of host plants (like milkweed for monarchs) and reduce nectar flowers, forcing butterflies to migrate to wetter areas or enter a resting state known as diapause.
How Droughts Affect Butterflies in NC
- Reduced Food Supply: Droughts dry out nectar flowers and wilt host plants. If adult butterflies can't find nectar, they won't stick around to lay eggs.
- Impact on Caterpillars: Without fresh, hydrated leaves to eat, larvae struggle to survive, drastically reducing the number of butterflies that mature into the next generation.
- Early Migration or Delayed Breeding: Erratic rainfall patterns confuse butterfly life cycles. For example, studies on imperiled subtropical species by researchers at NC State University show that delayed rainfall causes prolonged diapause (dormancy), which can hinder population growth.
The Broader Picture in North Carolina
Even in ideal conditions, North Carolina butterflies face pressures from habitat loss. In recent years, annual butterfly counts—such as those monitored by the Charlotte Urban Institute—have recorded significant drops in both the number of individual butterflies and the total number of species. Localized catastrophes like hurricanes or severe heat waves coupled with region-wide dry spells contribute to these low counts.
What You Can Do
To help local populations survive dry spells, consider making your yard more resilient.
- Water Sources: Provide a shallow dish of water with pebbles for butterflies to land on or make butterfly mud.
- Native Host Plants: Plant drought-tolerant native species that support caterpillars, such as Butterfly Milkweed for monarchs.
- Use the NC State Extension Butterfly Guide: Access their full backyard guide for a list of 175+ NC species and exactly what to plant to create a drought-resistant pollinator oasis.
Butterfly mud is a great way to provide our butterflies with a moisture source. To create a butterfly mud puddle (or "puddler"), mix sand or soil with water, composted manure, and a pinch of non-iodized salt. This creates a nutrient-rich, moist patch that attracts male butterflies. They visit these areas to absorb essential salts and minerals that flower nectar lacks.
Materials Needed
- Container: A wide, shallow dish like a terracotta plant saucer or a plastic pie tin.
- Base: Coarse sand (or clean dirt).
- Nutrient Source: Composted manure, organic fertilizer, or a pinch of sea salt (do not use table salt as it contains iodine).
- Perches: Small flat rocks or glass gems.
- Water: Enough to moisten the mixture into wet mud.
- Prepare the Dish: Fill your shallow container almost entirely with sand or clean, pesticide-free garden soil.
- Add Minerals: Mix in a small handful of composted manure (about 1 part manure to 2 or 3 parts sand). If you do not have manure, mix in a few pinches of organic fertilizer or sea salt.
- Sculpt and Add Perches: Shape the mixture so it slopes toward the center, forming a low spot. Place a few flat rocks or pebbles in the dish to give the butterflies a place to land and sun themselves.
- Moisten the Puddle: Slowly add water until the sand and soil are thoroughly wet and muddy. Do not create a deep, open pool where insects could drown.
- Place in the Garden: Set the tray in a sunny, flower-filled area of your garden, as butterflies are drawn to heat and bright colors.
- Add Fruit: Butterflies are also attracted to sweet, fermenting liquids. Place a few slices of overripe bananas or oranges on the side of the tray to make the spot irresistible. [1, 2, 3]
- Maintenance: Monitor the puddler during hot, dry weather. Add water every few days to keep the mixture moist. Change the sand and compost mixture out every 3 to 4 weeks to keep it fresh.
INVASIVE HORNET ALERT - THREAT TO BEES AND POLLINATORS
NCDA&CS confirms first finding of yellow-legged hornet in the state, asks beekeepers to watch for predator hornet
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has confirmed the first established presence of the invasive yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) in the state, in Matthews.
Yellow-legged hornet adults were reported to NCDA&CS by a Union County homeowner who noticed suspicious hornet activity at her hummingbird feeder. A follow-up survey found additional adults near the Union and Mecklenburg County line. Survey, trapping and response efforts by NCDA&CS and USDA-APHIS-PPQ are ongoing.
“NCDA&CS has been monitoring for yellow-legged hornet since it was first detected in the United States in Savannah, Georgia, in November 2023. This aggressive pest of honeybees and other pollinators had been previously localized near Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, until a population was identified last December in York County, South Carolina, just south of the Charlotte metropolitan area,” said Dr. Bill Foote, director of the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division. “This detection prompted us to ramp up surveillance this year in southern Union and Mecklenburg counties. North Carolina has thousands of beekeepers statewide, and our apiary team has been working diligently to alert them to the threat yellow-legged hornet poses to their hives.”
Beekeepers are asked to watch for hornets around hives exhibiting “hawking-like behavior.” This behavior is a distinctive characteristic to the yellow-legged hornet as they prey on bees. Their hives are another distinctive feature as they can grow much larger than other hornets' nests and have a reddish, muddy color to them compared to gray colored nests of bald-faced hornets for example (see photo below). At this time in the season, hives would likely be the size of a volleyball, although they can grow in size to fill a pick-up truck bed.
Because yellow-legged hornets attack honeybees, they can cause reduced foraging and colony failure, said State Apiarist Don Hopkins. “This would result in reduced honey and other honeybee products, reduced crop production due to decreased pollination by honeybees and native pollinators, making the hornet a serious threat to North Carolina’s beekeeping community,”
NCDA&CS is working to locate and remove the yellow-legged hornet nest to prevent further spread. More than 200 survey traps have been set in the area surrounding the Union County home where the adults were spotted to target the nest and find additional populations. Homeowners and beekeepers throughout North Carolina are encouraged to visit the NCDA&CS website for instructions to build, report and monitor traps on their property.
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The mission of the Fuquay-Varina Garden Club in North Carolina is to encourage interest in the art of gardening, garden design, flower arranging and horticulture while improving the environment through beautification, protection and conservation. We meet the third Thursday of the month January-May & September-December. General meetings are held at The Fuquay Varina Woman's Club Clubhouse located at 602 N. Ennis Street. The first two meetings are complimentary. Want to know more? Read ABOUT US, contact us at [email protected], &/or Like us on Facebook!
NCDA&CS confirms first finding of yellow-legged hornet in the state, asks beekeepers to watch for predator hornet
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has confirmed the first established presence of the invasive yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) in the state, in Matthews.
Yellow-legged hornet adults were reported to NCDA&CS by a Union County homeowner who noticed suspicious hornet activity at her hummingbird feeder. A follow-up survey found additional adults near the Union and Mecklenburg County line. Survey, trapping and response efforts by NCDA&CS and USDA-APHIS-PPQ are ongoing.
“NCDA&CS has been monitoring for yellow-legged hornet since it was first detected in the United States in Savannah, Georgia, in November 2023. This aggressive pest of honeybees and other pollinators had been previously localized near Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, until a population was identified last December in York County, South Carolina, just south of the Charlotte metropolitan area,” said Dr. Bill Foote, director of the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division. “This detection prompted us to ramp up surveillance this year in southern Union and Mecklenburg counties. North Carolina has thousands of beekeepers statewide, and our apiary team has been working diligently to alert them to the threat yellow-legged hornet poses to their hives.”
Beekeepers are asked to watch for hornets around hives exhibiting “hawking-like behavior.” This behavior is a distinctive characteristic to the yellow-legged hornet as they prey on bees. Their hives are another distinctive feature as they can grow much larger than other hornets' nests and have a reddish, muddy color to them compared to gray colored nests of bald-faced hornets for example (see photo below). At this time in the season, hives would likely be the size of a volleyball, although they can grow in size to fill a pick-up truck bed.
Because yellow-legged hornets attack honeybees, they can cause reduced foraging and colony failure, said State Apiarist Don Hopkins. “This would result in reduced honey and other honeybee products, reduced crop production due to decreased pollination by honeybees and native pollinators, making the hornet a serious threat to North Carolina’s beekeeping community,”
NCDA&CS is working to locate and remove the yellow-legged hornet nest to prevent further spread. More than 200 survey traps have been set in the area surrounding the Union County home where the adults were spotted to target the nest and find additional populations. Homeowners and beekeepers throughout North Carolina are encouraged to visit the NCDA&CS website for instructions to build, report and monitor traps on their property.
_______________________________________________________________
The mission of the Fuquay-Varina Garden Club in North Carolina is to encourage interest in the art of gardening, garden design, flower arranging and horticulture while improving the environment through beautification, protection and conservation. We meet the third Thursday of the month January-May & September-December. General meetings are held at The Fuquay Varina Woman's Club Clubhouse located at 602 N. Ennis Street. The first two meetings are complimentary. Want to know more? Read ABOUT US, contact us at [email protected], &/or Like us on Facebook!
Are you looking for garden opportunities? Check out Triangle Gardener’s Event Calendar where you will find some free events or a plethora of classes working with an expert for your unique desires.
Do you want an updated "To Do" list as Spring is here? Go to the following link for update from the NCSU Cooperative Extension. https://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/growingsmallfarms-spring-chores-in-the-pollinator-garden/
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Do you like to....
* Grow flowers, plants, and/or vegetables? * Enjoy sharing your gardening experiences? * Don’t know how, but want to learn? * Enjoy guest speakers and field trips? * Want to give back to your community? Join our Garden Club! |
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We have received a number of state awards for our many ongoing projects. In 2021 we received Judy Barnes Scholarship Award" from the GCNC. This is given to the club that gives the most scholarship funds based on a ratio per member.
In 2015 we were warded Most Outstanding Garden Tour - 1st Place Winner by The Garden Club of North Carolina. Our next Garden Tour will take place in May 17-18, 2025.
In 2015 we were warded Most Outstanding Garden Tour - 1st Place Winner by The Garden Club of North Carolina. Our next Garden Tour will take place in May 17-18, 2025.
