Sullivan County CISMA

06/28/2021

Milkweed Monday!!

Common milkweed, pictured below growing along a Sullivan County backroad, is nature's mega-food market for insects. Over 450 insects are known to feed on some portion of the plant. Numerous insects are attracted to the nectar-laden flowers and it is not at all uncommon to see flies, beetles, ants, bees, wasps, and butterflies on the flowers at the same time. Its sap, leaves and flowers also provide food. In the Northeast and Midwest, it is among the most important food plants for monarch caterpillars as the larvae of monarch butterflies will only eat leaves of plants in the milkweed family. No milkweed, no monarchs!

So what's the big deal??
The web of life depends on plants. Through photosynthesis, plants convert the sun’s energy into food for insects and other herbivores. These feeders in turn sustain a whole range of wildlife that feed upon them, and so forth, all the way up the food chain.

For more information, visit: https://indiananativeplants.org/native-plants/why-we-care-about-native-plants/

06/14/2021

06/14/2021

Congratulations, Graduates!!

06/06/2021

Happy Sunday morning. For those that are attending tomorrow nights class at Shakamac State Park on invasive make sure you download the apps so that they are ready to run when class time starts. See you tomorrow 

06/04/2021

Just one more reason to skip invasives and plant natives!

Use native plants to welcome wildlife!!

During spring and early summer, many people ask what they can do to support wildlife conservation. Habitat loss is the biggest threat to wildlife diversity, and planting native plants is one of the best ways to help. Native Indiana plants like wildflowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs are ones that have grown here for thousands of years and are adapted to the climate and soils of Indiana. Native plants provide food and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Many species of birds and small mammals use native plants as nesting material. The deep roots of native plants also help to keep pollution out of Indiana’s waterbodies.

Click on the following link to learn more about building backyard habitat: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/education-programs/

05/18/2021

❤️💧 https://bit.ly/3eO4gAx

03/26/2021

The Sullivan County CISMA, along with numerous CISMA organizations across Indiana, are working hard to educate the public and eradicate invasive plants from the Indiana landscape.

Even through the pandemic, our CISMA made great strides! See below a few of our highlights from 2020.

Interested in more information or joining the CISMA? Give us a shout at 812-268-5157, ext. 3.

03/24/2021

Thank you to our Regional Specialist Amber Slaughterbeck for the new logo idea!

What does everyone think?

03/17/2021

Great program offered by the Sullivan County SWCD. Give them a call for a free site evaluation, soil sampling.

Did you see our coverage in the Sullivan Daily Times?
The SWCD is offering free soil health evaluations and soil sampling for gardeners, homesteaders and general landowners that are interested in making their yard/trees/flowers/pollinator habitat better!

Have a tree not doing well? We can help!
Want more productivity in your garden? We can help!
Flowers not blooming as well as you like? We can help!
Have a wet-spot in your yard? We can help!
Need some more guidance on fertilizing your plants? We can help!
Have an erosion problem? We can help!

Site evaluations and soil samples pulled for free, with recommendations and follow up guidance given for each visit.

Give us a call: 812-268-5151, ext. 3.