Buds and Blooms: Mind your footprint in 2020

By Bev Crawford on December 28, 2019.

In anticipation for our new year, 2020, commitments to our aspirations to change are being made. We all have our personal resolutions, but I would like to encourage everyone to make some commitments to Mother Nature.

The words climate and change are very popular these days. Whether you believe in climate change or not, there is no doubt that we humans are ruining this world for everything from bees to whales. From use of pesticides to our plastic rubbish, we are poisoning our beautiful world and ourselves. Scientists also report that space is littered with “space junk,” which may cause problems for astronauts and their space exploration program.

People have to be more responsible for every piece of material they purchase or consume. We tend to think that if we don’t want “stuff” we can just throw it in the garbage. We need to learn where the garbage goes to after that big truck picks it up each week.

We need to be responsible for the whales found dead with a belly full of plastics and cast off fishing gear. There are too many people in this world that care about nothing but the almighty dollar. Some are desperate, some ignorant, and some just plain greedy. What do you think about an elephant poacher or a shark finner? The abuse to Mother Nature’s creatures is unfathomable.

Let us begin in our own backyard by inviting nature in. We can be resolute in how we care for our environment. Do not use chemicals in your oasis. Plant more perennials to attract the pollinators. Compost all kitchen scraps and yard waste. Feed birds with seed and/or berry producing trees and shrubs. Birds, bees, butterflies, and bugs will all feel welcome!

I like to photograph footprints in the snow and show them to my grandchildren to guess what they are. When I sent the photo of the pheasant’s footprints and tail feathers to my daughter, Emily, she remarked on the diversified eco system we have in our yard. Last year we had a lone cock pheasant, and a few days ago he brought six of his girlfriends! The hen pheasants flew into our Russian Olive tree to feast on the little hard olive berries. It was so thrilling.

We have bird prints, deer prints, bunny prints and my husband’s big prints to and from the bird feeders. With 2020 just around the corner, please welcome in the new year with your own footprint in mind, and help Mother Nature to fight climate change.

Bev Crawford is the Perennial House Manager at The Windmill Garden Centre and John’s Butterfly House.