Moths vs. Butterflies: Floral Attraction

Moths and butterflies are attracted to different kinds of flowers due to their distinct periods of activity (diurnal vs. nocturnal). Butterflies are diurnal (daytime) pollinators, relying primarily on sight. They are attracted to flowers that are:

Brightly coloured (red, yellow, orange, purple).
Flowers include California Poppy, Marigolds, Pigface and Sunflowers available at the Garden Shop.
Open during the day.
Often clustered and flat-topped, serving as a landing platform.
Possessing a mild, fresh scent.

Moths are mostly nocturnal (night time) pollinators, relying heavily on scent in the dark. They seek out flowers that are:

Pale or white to be visible against the night sky.
Currently we have beans, capsicums and chillis, we hope to offer these in the New Year at the Garden Shop.
Open only at night.
Often deep and tubular (trumpet-shaped), ideal for hovering or large bodies.
Releasing a strong, sweet, and musky fragrance in the evening.

In short, daytime flowers evolved for sight (butterflies), while night time flowers evolved for scent (moths).

Pic of the Week

The citrus leafminer moth (Phyllocnistis citrella) is a common pest of orange trees, with larvae that tunnel just beneath the surface of new, tender leaves. This activity creates distinctive, silvery, serpentine trails. Although mature trees can tolerate some damage, heavy infestation causes leaves to curl and distort, limiting the plant's ability

to photosynthesize. Control involves encouraging natural predators and applying horticultural oils to protect the vulnerable new growth.

No Bees No Banquet

While it's inaccurate to say there are 'no bees' (Australia has over 1,500 native bee species, plus the introduced European honeybee), their populations — especially the managed honeybees essential for agriculture are under immense pressure.

Primary Threats to Bees in Australia

1. Varroa Mite (Varroa destructor): The most immediate threat. This tiny parasite, now detected in NSW, devastates European honeybee colonies by feeding on the bees and spreading viruses. Its containment is a major focus for Australian beekeeping. (Note: Our many species of native bees are generally not affected by the Varroa mite).

2. Habitat Loss & Monocultures: Urban development and intensive farming reduce the diversity and availability of flowering plants, leading to a severe lack of consistent food (nectar and pollen) for bees.

3. Pesticides: Chemicals, especially neonicotinoids, can impair a bee's navigation, immunity, and reproductive health, even at low doses.

Dire Consequences of Bee Loss

Bees are responsible for pollinating roughly one-third of all food crops consumed globally. The disappearance of bees would have catastrophic ripple effects:

1. Threat to Food Security and Variety

Loss of Fruits, Vegetables, and Nuts: Staple crops like rice and wheat are wind-pollinated, but most of our nutritionally essential foods apples, avocados, berries, almonds, carrots, coffee, and many others rely on insect pollination. Without bees, these foods would become scarce and incredibly expensive, leading to poor human diets.
Economic Disaster: The value of bee pollination services to global agriculture is estimated to be billions of dollars annually. The cost and labour of hand-pollinating crops would be unsustainable on a commercial scale.

2. Ecological Collapse

Plant Extinction: Many native plants have co-evolved to be pollinated by specific bee species. If those bees disappear, those plants cannot reproduceand will decline or go extinct.
Disruption of the Food Chain: A loss of plant diversity and abundance impacts the entire ecosystem, affecting insects, birds, and animals that rely on those plants for food and shelter.

How Can You Help (Local Action)?

Every Sydney Garden and balcony can be a refuge:

Plant Pollinator Flowers: Use a variety of plants, especially flowering native species like Grevillea and Bottlebrush, ensuring blooms are available year-round.
Avoid Pesticides: Eliminate synthetic chemicals in your garden, which harm bee navigation and health.
Provide Habitat: Leave a small, sunny patch of bare soil for native ground-nesting bees and provide a shallow water dish with landing stones.

Empty Jar Collection

We are collecting empty Vegemite, Dolmio and Leggo’s Jars in exchange for seeds.

We are collecting only 10 jars of each type, so hurry so you don’t miss out. Jars need to be washed, clean and without cracks and with a workable lid. These jars willbe used for a future Garden Shop project or repurposed for storage.

What’s new at the Garden Shop?

Garden Shop will be open, Monday 8th December, Term 4 Week 9 After school (3:10pm)

1. 90% of items sold are less than $3.

2. All funds will help Garden Club.

3. All items sold can be returned for reuse or upcycled.

We have new plants, seedling and cuttings. Please pop by.

Plant	Key Edible / Nutritional Benefit	Key Environmental Benefit
Sunflower	Seeds are high in health fats, protein and Vitamin E	Excellent source of pollen / nectar for pollinators (bees / butterflies)
Nasturium	Leaves / flowers are high in Vitamin C with a peppery flavour (edible garnish)	Acts as a 'trap crop' for pests like aphids, protecting other plants
Spider Plant	Not a food source (but non-toxic)	Top-rated indoor air purifier (removes formaldehyde / xylene)
Japanese Sweet Potato	Tuber is rich in complex carbs, fibre, Vitamin C and antioxidants	Excellent groud cover that prevents soil erosion and suppresses weeds
Spanish Moss	Not a food source	Provides wildlife habitat and nexting material for birds

When is Garden Club?

Garden Club happens on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, right after the gates open. We meet at the bubblers on the Churchill Avenue side of the school.

Garden Club is completely FREE to join! It's a great opportunity to learn to be a lateral thinker with limited resources, get first pick after a harvest, and see some fascinating creatures.

The information shared here is based on our experiences and knowledge, but we are not gardening experts. Think of it as friendly advice from one garden lover to another. Please remember that all gardening activities should be done with adult supervision and that you are responsible for your own safety and decisions.

Christmas Vacation Care