Botanical sting operation staves off poaching of wild Venus Fly-Traps

It's far cheaper to buy plants at a nursery or garden shop than to dig them up in a protected area or nature preserve and be fined for the offense.

The Nature Conservancy teamed up with NC's Department of Agriculture to set a trap for poachers digging up Venus Flytraps. In Brunswick County, they teamed up with the NC Department of Agriculture to set up a botanical sting operation to stop poaching of Venus Fly-Trap plants which grow naturally in the southeastern bogs of North Carolina.

The Venus Fly-Trap poaching epidemic hit an all time high in June of 2005 when over 1,000 plants where stolen from the Green Swamp Preserve in Brunswick County in a single day. It is illegal to take these plants from their natural setting and the offense is punishable by a fine of $50 per plant.

Since an offender has to be caught to be charged, the Nature Conservancy and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture adopted a method used during a similar sting during the 1990’s. By spraying the plants with a harmless phosphorescent paint, authorities can now use an ultraviolet light to scan suspected plants and identify them as stolen.

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The Nature Conservancy
NC Department of Agriculture

Southport Times
September 24, 2007
Dave Batts

How The Nature Conservancy Has Made an Impact in Brunswick County, NC

“Protecting Nature. Preserving Life.” The slogan for The Nature Conservancy speaks for itself. Their mission statement is poetic too - “To preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters that they need to survive.”

Though they rarely make their way to the spotlight, when you look at their website (www.nature.org), their existence is evident, having earned themselves the title of one of “the most trusted organizations” in 2005 and 2006.

They work in a collaborative effort with people all over the world, helping them preserve and care for over 117 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of waterways. Much of this burden is supported by the 1 million members it has, with 10,000 of those members being volunteers who devote their free time to making a difference.

In one of their more recent local projects in Brunswick County, they teamed up with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to set up a botanical sting operation in an effort to stave off the poaching of wild Venus Fly-Traps which grow naturally in the southeastern bogs of North Carolina.

The Venus Fly-Trap poaching epidemic hit an all time scare when in June of 2005, over 1,000 plants where stolen from the Green Swamp Preserve in Brunswick County in a single day! Though a farm raised plant can be bought at nearly any nursery, it is illegal to harvest a Venus Fly-Trap from its natural setting, an offense punishable by a fine of $50 per plant.

Since an offender has to be caught “green handed” in order to be charged, the Nature Conservancy and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture adopted a method used during a similar sting operation during the 1990’s, in which wild ginseng was being harvested from the Smoky Mountains. Painting the plants with a harmless phosphorescent paint, authorities can now use an ultraviolet light to scan the suspected plant, thus identifying it as stolen.

Though the sight of a Venus Fly-Trap growing in the wild would surely catch any unsuspecting walker off guard, it is only one of the many rare plants that seem to dot the landscape of Brunswick County’s wilderness. There is a Nature Trail in Boiling Spring Lakes where you can view Venus Fly traps in their natural environment. The Nature Trail is a joint effort of The Nature Conservancy, the City of Boiling Spring Lakes, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and the Consumer Services Plant Conservation Program. It begins at the Boiling Spring Lakes Community Center.

Other rare plants located in Brunswick County include sundew and four different types of pitcher plants, as well as the less carnivorous orchids that don’t require nitrogen from bugs to survive, but are sure to take the breath away from passersby’s just the same.

Several environmental factors attribute to the rare flora that is found throughout the area, ranging from its location to the Gulf Stream to the naturally occurring fires which is a life giver to the long-needle pines that need the fires to pollinate.

The Nature Conservancy has been obtaining land from Brunswick County since 1977, when The Federal Paper Board first donated over 13,850 acres of The Green Swamp Preserves to the organization. In 1999, The Nature Conservancy acquired over 6,500 acres from The Boiling Spring Lakes area, which is now The Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve. Though the BSL Preserve is owned by The North Carolina Department of Agriculture, the Nature Conservancy helps to manage both of the preserves through planned burnings (which is necessary for the ecological growth of the preserve’s natural setting), planting fresh pines to one day pollinate the landscape, and hanging boxes for the federally endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers. Both preserves are open to the public through the use of nature trails only, as the treaded footfalls of curious onlookers can have a detrimental impact on the preserves’ delicate ecosystem. Original article...

Gardening tips for drought conditions

Work with your plants and home gardens during dry times to help them survive and adapt. You can help your plants survive drought conditions by taking a few steps to help them along...

• Mulch, mulch, mulch - Adding a layer of mulch around and near plants will help conserve the moisture that plants do get and will also keep the roots cool.
• Water a little, but not too much - Water if needed but don't over water. Many plants will shed leaves and become dormant to protect themselves. Watering excessively can cause plants to rot or drown. Plants over a year old should have a good root structure and will need less water.
  
• Choose plants suited to your area and pick drought tolerant ones for dry conditions. Lantana, Butterfly Plants and other choices are good for areas that get lots of sun and endure drought better.

Don't be surprised when you lose a few plants during dry times. Some plants just don't do well in hot, dry areas and should only be planted if the right conditions and part shade are available.

News & Observer
September 15, 2007
Debra Boyette, Staff Writer

How to care for your drought-stressed plants

Your impatiens looking a little, well, impatient? Your dahlias drooping?

It's no wonder. Until the last week, temperatures have been in the triple digits, and raindrops have been few. Watering restrictions are in place all over the Triangle. Flowers and other plants are showing signs of stress. What can you do?

"Unfortunately, some plants just won't survive," says Peter Zierz, a Wake County master gardener. But you can take some steps to help your garden grow.

The most important thing you can do is mulch them well, Zierz says. Mulching helps keep the roots cool. It also helps keep what little moisture the plants get from evaporating.

Second, don't add more stress. When times get tough, a lot of plants go dormant in an attempt to conserve energy. Their leaves may even drop off. The tendency is to do something to help them. But leave them alone, Zierz says. Don't fertilize. Don't prune. Don't water. That will just wake them up, cause new growth and add more stress.

If you're watering (on your assigned day and time, of course), don't go overboard. Lawns and shrubs that are less than a year old need an inch of water per week, Zierz says. But don't drench them. You want the water to be absorbed into the soil. Shrubs that are older than a year old probably don't need to be watered now.

If you're thinking about planting shrubs or flowers this autumn, late fall is the best time to do so -- that means November to January in this zone. But keep in mind that new plantings need lots of water to get established. You'll need to keep that under consideration if restrictions continue or get tighter.

Not all plants are having a tough time. "My lantana is thriving," Zierz says.

Lantana loves the sun, and some varieties are perennial. When you're planning your flower beds for next year, think about lantana and other plants that do well under drought conditions. These include salvia, angelonia, geraniums and native wildflowers. Original article...

What kinds of pots to use?

A brief on types of pots to use for home gardening published in June, 2007, can help you select pots for your many planting projects. As you can imagine there are lots of choices and the type you select should be based on appearance, function, durability and a variety of factors...

News & Observer
June 23, 2007
Tina Mast, Correspondent

Pot Particulars

TERRA COTTA Beautiful and breathable, it ages attractively until the day it decides to break down, usually after three or more winters. It's a good idea to take these pots in over the winter if you want to keep them a long time.

CONCRETE AND CAST IRON Some of the most durable materials you will find, and usually the most expensive.

FIBERGLASS Durable and lightweight, it can be made to simulate other materials. You'll find it in the middle of the price range.

RESIN-FOAM Have the advantage of being lightweight but will age in a few seasons. Get the ones that are the same color all the way through so you won't notice as much if they get chipped or a have chunk taken out of them.

PLASTIC. Despite the yuck factor, plastic can be very practical, not to mention cheap. Thinner plastic pots will age faster than thicker ones, and it helps to select brands that are labeled UV resistant. Nevertheless, plastic still loses out against other materials once the beauty contest starts. Original article...