Leader
for today’s Ramble: Kaitlin Swiantek and Catherine Chastain
Authors of today’s Ramble report: Linda and Don. Comments, edits, and suggestions for the report can be
sent to Linda at Lchafin (at) uga.edu.
Insect and fungi identifications: Don Hunter, Heather Larkin, Bill Sheehan
Link to Don’s Facebook
album for this Ramble. All the photos that
appear in this report, unless otherwise credited, were taken by Don Hunter.
Photos may be enlarged by clicking them with a mouse or tapping on your screen.
Today’s emphasis: Pollination of native plants
and cultivars
Catherine
invited Kaitlin Swiantek, a grad student in horticulture at UGA, to speak to us
about her project and to walk with us through the International, Heritage and
Flower Gardens, sharing her observations about pollination issues,
including selection of insects capable of pollination based on both flower
structure and insect anatomy, among other things. She is studying several
species of Mountain Mint in the genus Pycnanthemum for their commercial potential for use in home and business landscaping as a way to support
pollinators. Currently, there are only a few species available on the market: Pycnanthemum
muticum, P. verticillatum, and P. virginianum.
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| Left to right: Pycnanthemum muticum, P. verticillatum, and P. virginianum photo credits: Don Hunter, Kerry Woods, Alan Cressler |
