Pollinators

By: Jean Meyers

Pollinators - the more the merrier!

A Monarch lands in the Rows for the Hungry garden.

Almost every fruit, vegetable, and flower needs and owes its existence to bees and other pollinators. (Some plants can self pollinate or use the wind to pollinate.) They carry pollen from the male part of the plant to the female part of the plant, causing fertilization and the growth of the fruit or flower.

We are eager to save the bees. Costa Rica has even recently given them honorary citizenship. They are beautiful, interesting, magical and necessary to the production of fruits and vegetables. Wasps, not to be confused with nasty hornets and yellow jackets, also aid in pollination. They are non aggressive and wonderful architects. Look at those nests they build! They live peacefully and contribute mightily to the food supply and beauty of our planet.

Anyone can make a big impact by thoughtfully planting to attract pollinators. Planting a variety of hosts for pollinators is fun and helpful. Swallowtail butterflies love the Spice Bush. Monarch butterflies love the Milkweed plant. Native plants will attract a wonderful variety of birds, bees, and other pollinators endangered by the increasing loss of habitat.

We are becoming more aware of the danger of pesticides. They kill the pollinators, birds, butterflies, and wild life. Please heed caution when choosing pesticides and always read the label and application instructions carefully. Doug Talamy says it best: “Insects are not optional. It is not okay if they disappear. Insects are the primary drivers of our ecosystems. If they go, we go.”

A Swallowtail butterfly lands in the Rows for the Hungry garden.