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PLANT OF THE MONTH
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Year-round green for your yard
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Eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) can lift your spirits whether you have it planted outdoors or bring some sprigs inside to decorate the table or mantel. In your yard, snow will grace its shoulders on wintery days. Its dense branches and flat, scaly needles shield its furry and feathered visitors from harsh winds.
This winter, you might find white cedar attracting a larger than usual number of finches, such as redpolls and pine siskins, who have come to forage for its small brown cones. Also keep an eye out for other birds like cardinals and owls that use the dense greenery for cover.
In summer, this evergreen creates dense shade and a welcome refuge from hot temperatures.
Growing up to 5 metres tall in most urban yards, eastern white cedar can be planted in any soil in full sun or light shade. It tolerates drought and foot traffic. Avoid planting in areas where there’s road salt or salt spray to ensure you have a beautiful, healthy tree all year round.
While attractive on its own, it’s a real standout when planted in a group of three or in a row to create a privacy fence or wind break. Create a neighbourhood winter wonderland by planting eastern white cedar on your property.
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CARING FOR YOUR YARD
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A brush pile creates winter habitat
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Forget Fall Chores for Winter's Foragers and Scavengers
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If you didn’t complete all your yard cleanup chores before the snow fell, you’ll be relieved to know that your unfinished chores provide a valuable source of food and habitat for our winter foragers, gatherers and scavengers.
Messy unraked leaves? In the fall, beneficial insects such as great spangled fritillary and wooly bear caterpillars will have tucked themselves into fallen leaves for hibernation. Winter birds and small mammals root through those neglected leaves looking for a high-energy, protein-rich caterpillar snack.
Tiny invertebrates, like springtails, feed on leaves and other decaying material. They break it down into smaller pieces so microscopic organisms, like bacteria and fungi, can convert it into beneficial chemicals and minerals that feed soil and plants.
Long-forgotten brush pile? Brush piles host a variety of beneficial insects, such as beetle larvae, that feed on the decaying wood and break it down into valuable organic matter for your yard.
If you don’t like the look of a pile of brush, move it behind a shed or in the back corner to create a hidden, cozy shelter for birds. They might also get lucky and find a few insects to eat during the lean winter months.
Untrimmed wildflowers and grasses? Perfect! The seeds of native plants such as goldenrods, asters and black-eyed susan are a great find for juncos, goldfinches and chickadees.
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DID YOU KNOW
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American crow finds a snack
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Scavengers are animals who eat carrion and decaying plant matter. They play an important ecological role by feeding on organic waste. Here are a few you might find in the watershed.
Scavengers in the sky
One of our most common year-round scavenging birds is the crow. They’re often seen roadside indulging in roadkill or organic waste, like apple cores and banana peels. Unfortunately, their roadside dining habit increases their risk of becoming roadkill themselves. Avoid tossing waste from your car to reduce fatalities.
Turkey vultures are also well-adapted to the scavenging lifestyle. They can smell decaying flesh up to a kilometer away! You’ve likely seen them circling the sky sniffing out a snack. If you’re lucky, you may also spot a bald eagle. While less common in Ontario, you may see one feeding on dead fish washed up along the shoreline.
Scavengers on the ground
Raccoons, skunks and opossums feed on any garbage they can get their paws on. Often thought of as pests, they’re actually more like nature’s cleanup crew. They eat rotting fruits and vegetables and even pesky insects and rodents. Opossums perform a significant civic duty by eating up to 4,000 ticks a week! But make sure garbage and compost lids are well-sealed, otherwise these scavengers may make a mess rather than clean one up.
Scavengers in the ground
When you dig beneath the leaves or soil in your garden, you may encounter some of our smaller and lesser-known scavengers. Millipedes, beetles, and slugs help create healthy soil by breaking down organic matter into smaller bits so decomposers like fungi and bacteria can work their magic. Healthy soil is an integral part of a healthy ecosystem and necessary for healthy, beautiful gardens.
You might be surprised to know that a more commonly seen underground scavenger, the earthworm, is an invasive species in Ontario. While they may benefit a vegetable garden, they can cause damage in natural areas by consuming too much leaf litter, altering the chemistry and structure of the soil.
Photo CC BY 2.0 Fyn Kind
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A common redpoll visits a yard for a treat
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Winter is a great time to learn about the many active creatures that call your backyard home during the cold season. Fresh snow and bare branches reveal tell-tale signs of who's been visiting. See how many of these signs you can find in your backyard. This is a fun activity for adults and kids alike!
- Bird tracks in the snow
- A feather (bonus if you can identify which bird it belongs to!)
- Paw prints in the snow (was it the neighbour's cat or a friendly skunk?)
- A clump of animal fur (who left it behind?)
- An insect or invertebrate that's active in winter
- A cozy leaf burrow
- A mouse or vole snow tunnel
Photo CC BY-NC 2.0 Marilylle Soveran
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At Credit Valley Conservation, we create connections between people and nature, knowledge and action. We lead the protection, restoration and enhancement of our local natural environment, and we inspire a deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping us connected, healthy and happy.
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