Greetings From SeaWorld’s Garden of Discovery

February 2002

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What’s Happening in SeaWorld’s Gardens This Month?

Park visitors may notice a coating of yellow dust around the Shipwreck Rapids Torrey pine trees. February typically marks the time of the year that the small pollen cones on these trees release their contents. Because pines rely solely on the wind for pollen distribution they are known for producing a substantial amount of this dusty yellow material.

The Pinus torreyana at Shipwreck Rapids are a treasured part of the SeaWorld plant collection. This species is considered to be the rarest native pine in North America. These trees, of course, grow naturally in San Diego's Torrey Pines State Reserve. Outside of the Reserve, Torrey pine has become a common tree in Southern California gardens.

For more information on the beautiful Torrey pines:

• Torrey Pines State Reserve
• The Torrey Pine

Pollen Cones

Mature Torrey Pine

Weather Report

Usual weather for February includes a half dozen periods of rain interposed with clear, cool mornings and sunny pleasant afternoons. Visibility will be high so if you're in the park a trip up the Skytower is a must (on the best days you may see the snow capped Laguna Mountains to the east and the Coronado Islands of Mexico to the southwest). Daytime high temperatures will be in the mid 60's to low 70's with overnight lows in the mid 40's. Rainfall average is about 2 inches.

For live SeaWorld San Diego weather visit:

• http://dc1.weatheractive.net/java1/seaworld/

Wildlife Watch

Guests have spotted the following wildlife in our Garden of Discovery:

A Mourning Dove relaxes on a Garden of Discovery Bird Feeder

Gardening for Wildlife

On a quiet morning Gulf Fritillary Butterflies alight on a passion flower vine, mourning doves, redwing black birds and House finches squabble in the Calliandra and Callistemon, Annas and Allens Hummingbirds pause for a drink from the self sustaining pond and all the while a Coopers Hawk surveys it's surroundings from high atop a nearby Canary Island pine. Wildlife are truly welcome at SeaWorld's Garden of Discovery. The crowning achievement for any gardener is to create a garden ecosystem that includes butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, dragonflies and many other varied wild visitors and residents. When this goal has been accomplished your Garden is truly vital. Would you like to welcome wildlife into your backyard garden? Here are some tips to create a garden habitat:

Food - (native shrubs and trees provide berries, seeds, nectar, pollen. A bird feeder can provide supplemental seeds).

Water - Birdbaths or ponds that are refreshed regularly.

Cover - Wildlife needs a home (just like humans) that offers protection from harsh weather and predators. Native (and non-native) trees, shrubs and groundcover can help accomplish this goal. Place cover close to food and water.

Places to raise youngsters - Dense mature shrubbery will aid with this objective as well as bird houses.

Important!! - Avoid the use of toxic pesticides as this can break the chain of your backyard ecosystem.

For complete information on constructing a backyard wildlife habitat visit the Garden of Discovery or the excellent National Wildlife Federation website.

Gulf Fritillary on a passion flower vine

For information on your customized educational opportunity in the Garden of Discovery contact Jeff Hall or Melanie Repikoff (619) 226-3900 ext. 2207.
E-mail: SWCLandscape@SeaWorld.com

Visit the online SeaWorld Garden Web Site!