 Flower gardens do more than just look and smell pretty. They provide a safe haven for bees and other pollinators. Pollinators are the animals that spread pollen between flowers, allowing them to create seeds. These animals include bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, moths, birds, and bats. Pollinators are essential parts of our ecosystem. In fact, “three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce” (NRCS).
Many pollinators are endangered species, especially bees. One of the easiest ways to help pollinators is to plant gardens full of flowering plants that attract pollinators and provide food for them. Bees and other pollinators eat pollen and nectar, so planting a garden will help both the pollinators and the plants. The Challenge During the next two weeks, try planting some flowers that attract pollinators. Some of these flowers are peony, milkweed, lavender, and marigold. In the coming weeks, we’ll post more information about each species of pollinator, instructions for how to plant a garden, and links to other projects that are working to protect pollinators. Sources “Natural Resources Conservation Service.” Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/. “Saving the Bees through Outreach and Education.” The Honeybee Conservancy, thehoneybeeconservancy.org/.
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