June 17-23, 2019 is National Pollinator Week, when we honor and show some love for our hard-working pollinators. They are always busy, and we benefit from their behavior. This week is the perfect time to do a little something that can make a difference for them.
If you don’t already have pollinator plants for your garden or balcony, this is an ideal week to go get a few at a local nursery or farmer's market. It’s not expensive and you don't have to do much to keep them alive, but it can literally mean the world to foraging bees and butterflies.
There are many reasons bees are dying, and one of the main reasons is a lack of wild flowers and diverse nectar and pollen producing flowers in many areas.
We'd like to help raise awareness this week, so we've put some information about pollinators below.
This video is less than five minutes long, and was made for National Pollinator Week two years ago. It is fascinating to watch this magnificent bumble bee at work.
What is a pollinator?
Insects and other vertebrates like some birds and mammals cause plants to make seeds or fruits by transporting pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower by touching or rubbing up against parts of the flower. These creatures are called pollinators. The pollen fertilizes the flower and therefore helps it to reproduce and that flower species to survive.
What is a pollinator garden?
A pollinator garden is a place that has an array of diverse wild flowers and other nectar and pollen producing flowers for pollinators like bees and butterflies. There is no size requirement, and in urban settings it is often found on a patio or roof top.
What are the main pollinators?
Insects are the primary pollinators. Bees, moths, butterflies, wasps, flies and beetles. Of these, industrious bees are the super stars of the pollinator world.
Do bees have favorite flowers they like to pollinate?
Bees pollinate two-thirds of all the vegetables and fruits you eat. Without bees, humans would be in a desperate situation.
Some perennial flowers that bees love pollinating are Sunflower, Echinacea, Blue Giant Hyssop, Horsemint, Black-Eyed Susan, Aster and Goldenrod. These are just a few types to get you started. At your local flower nursery ask which flowers grow best in your area that bees love to pollinate, and which are hardy and easy to maintain.
How can I find local events and ways to learn more about pollinators this week?
Go to the official website and see if there are events in your area. You can also download some fun materials both free and paid, including stickers, posters, recipes and so much more. There is a ton of educational material for kids and adults, so you can read up on how much human life depends on our pollinators.
Thanks for stopping by our blog today.
Have an awesome weekend!