Tag: wild flowers

Flora and Fauna

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

Joseph Colbert CWB®, Wildlife Biologist & Yank Moore, Director of Conservation

As spring moves into summer, plant growth is in full swing and sun-loving flowers are in bloom. The causeway pollinator plantings are no exception. Careful planning of species selection by Jekyll Island Authority’s (JIA) conservation staff gives an array of color combinations that will continue to change, flourish, and bloom. Throughout the year, these beauties provide a fresh and unique color palette for every season along with different flower shapes, heights, and sizes.

Spring has enjoyed a great production of spiderworts, phlox, primroses, and blanket flowers which provide an appealing medley of rich blue, white, red, and pink flowers. Moving into warmer months, plains coreopsis, black and brown-eyed susans, and a second flush of blanket flowers will yield various shapes and sizes of yellow and orange.   

Visitors and residents have expressed positive feedback and gratitude for the attractive and colorful native plants that grow and bloom along the causeway. Of course, no one is more grateful than the bees, beetles, butterflies, and a variety of other pollinators who gather nectar, pollen, and other critical resources for their survival. These seemingly insignificant ‘bugs’ play a critical role in plant life survival along with helping to provide summer favorites such as berries, summer vegetables, and melons. JIA’s conservation staff is pleased to help nurture such a valuable resource that appeals both to people and the diverse wildlife that call Jekyll Island home.

This project supports JIA’s mission of responsible preservation, maintenance, and care of wildlife diversity. We are grateful to the generous donors of the Jekyll Island Foundation for helping to make this possible.

To give to conservation projects that help restore habitats and contribute to the ecological enhancement of wildlife diversity on Jekyll Island, click HERE.

Spring Forward

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

by Yank Moore, Director of Conservation & Joseph Colbert CWB®, Wildlife Biologist

Spring is in the air on Jekyll Island. The songbirds are migrating, shorebirds are nesting, and flowers are showing their dramatic colorscapes. Before you know it, summer will be on the horizon, but for now, you can enjoy the pleasant weather and the majestic beauty of nature waking up from its winter slumber.

The Jekyll Island Causeway pollinator site that was planted over the winter has awoken from its slumber and is beginning to establish. As seeds from the native pollinator mix sprout, the colors are beginning to manifest, from the red, pink and white flowers of Phlox to the yellow and red flowers of Blanket Flower and finally brilliant pink Showy Primroses. A variety of Clovers and Brown-eyed Susans with their earthy tones are not far behind as the island approaches the heat of summer. The array of color combinations will continue to change as the species that were planted flourish and bloom throughout the year, providing a fresh and unique color palette for every season. Along with the native pollinators that were planted, native species that lied dormant in the soil include Peppergrass, Herb William and Spiderwort which blanket the ground with new growth, providing stability and moisture retention for the young seedlings that continue to develop.

While driving along the causeway, if you watch closely, you will see pollinators such as bees and butterflies, buzzing about with on-looking Tree Swallows and Swifts lurking to grab a quick bite. You may also enjoy the tradition of counting marsh rabbits while they feed on the young vegetation as you approach the sanctuary of Jekyll Island. Either way, guests and residents are greeted with attractive colorful native plants that provide critical resources for our diverse wildlife that make themselves at home on Jekyll Island.

This project supports the Jekyll Island Authority’s mission of responsible preservation, maintenance, and care of wildlife diversity, thanks to the contribution of a generous donor to the Jekyll Island Foundation. To contribute to the ecological enhancement of wildlife diversity and conservation efforts on Jekyll Island, click HERE.