We are kicking off CROWN’s newsletter! We expect quite a long history of working with the Queen City, and these newsletters will add to our connection with the City and we hope will continue as long as there are nature lovers out there to read and enjoy them. A special “Thank You” to Liz Horgan and her team for pulling this new venture together.

So, what is the “Nature” of Charlotte? How do we measure our City’s level of “wildlife friendliness”? We are quite proud to say that we have over 800 Charlotte landscapes that have been certified as wildlife habitats by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). 

But is that enough? Is Charlotte a region where multitudes of wildlife species feel comfortable living and raising families? Will we get to that point where native plants outnumber non-natives in our landscapes? Can you and I nurture an epiphany within our neighbor, and their neighbor, where they come to realize that we ourselves are part of nature, not separate from nature? Can we share the realization that what we do or don’t do in our landscapes has a profound and lasting effect on the quality of local ecosystems?

CROWN’s mission is “To educate and engage the citizens of the greater Charlotte region about the benefits of creating wildlife friendly communities.” As we begin our second year of operating under this mission, we hope to collaborate with homeowners, families, school teachers, business owners, and city officials to encourage a renewed connection to nature. 

Many older folks can remember that connection during our childhood, but will today’s children have that same critical piece o human development? CROWN has many NWF trained Habitat Stewards, Central Carolina Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, and wildlife enthusiasts who are devoted to their passion and are willing to share their knowledge and experience with anyone who will take a moment to listen.

I invite you to check us out. Thoroughly digest this and future newsletters. Take a look at our website in more detail. Come to our monthly meetings on the third Thursday of the month at Queens University. Talk to any of our dedicated Chapter Leaders. Get to know us and our mission. During this process, I also encourage you to ask yourself this question: 

“How can I help CROWN expand their mission, so that my children and their children may know the many joyful wonders of nature, here, in Charlotte, North Carolina?”

Redbuds and Pollinators

            Easy-to-grow native redbud trees bloom gorgeous royal-purple flowers in the spring, but their importance to wildlife, even native bees, makes them triple the value in your landscape.

This time of year, the seedpods hang dainty and dry from the yellowing tree, and many will remain through much of the winter. Apparently not a preferred food for wildlife, these seed pods provide “emergency” fodder, later in the year when other supplies run low. Cardinals, raccoon, and deer, may eventually dine on them, but even if they don’t, redbuds are valuable to our native pollinators.

When redbuds bloom in late March and early April, the tiny pea-like flowers provide nectar to our important native bumblebees and other species of mining bees who emerge early in the year. Then later the foliage provides multiple functions. Larvae of the tiny Henry’s Elfin butterfly feed on the leaves, but another,  little-known purpose, is how the leaves can be used as building material. A female leaf-cutting bee, a beneficial native mason bee, will often cut near-perfect circles from the leaves to seal up her brood for the next year.  If you see holes like these pictured, don’t dismay. Your redbud is providing an important service to local native bees that will complete the cyle of pollination in the spring.