4 Ways to Participate in National Pollinator Week (Page 2)

2. Make Your New Garden Pollinator-Friendly

The takeaway from the study that found that honeybees prefer working class gardens is to keep the flower selection simple.

The less complex the flower, the better it is for bees. When you’re buying plants or seeds look for keywords like “old fashioned” and “cottage flower.”

Choose older plant varieties over seed packets labeled “new introduction” and “improved.” New and improved introductions often produce less pollen than their “old-fashioned” counterparts.

Grow plants that attract butterflies and don’t forget to plant some that will become food for caterpillars. Ensure that there’s a water supply for bees and other pollinators in your garden by setting out a pail of water and floating wine corks in the water.

Butterflies and the European honeybee get all the love and headlines, but our native bees play a role in pollination that is often overlooked. Can you tie a few pieces of bamboo stakes together with a string and hang them from a tree branch? You just created a home for native bees and you’re now a native beekeeper.

3. Join a National Pollinator Week Event

There are many events across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico scheduled for this week that you and your family can participate in. Visit the National Pollinator Week event page and click on your state or territory to find a local event you can participate in, or start one in your community.

4. Educate Yourself on Pollinators
The days of carrying around voluminous field guides are behind us. Today you can carry an app in your iPhone or Android phone to help you identify pollinators.

On the web, The Great Pollinator Project, Pollinator.org, and the pollinator webpage by the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service host everything you could possibly need to learn about pollinators.

What are you doing this week to celebrate pollinators?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Donna H.

11:45AM PST on Nov 14, 2012

Thanks.

November 14
send a green star

Michele W.

7:20AM PDT on Jul 14, 2012

Thank you

July 14
send a green star

Ron B.

7:10PM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

We have more bees than ever in our backyard this season---a good sign.

June 19
send a green star

Vicky P.

5:29PM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

thanks

Terry V.

3:44PM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

I have over 2500 square feet of flower beds and LOVE to share my extras.Have even offered them for free on Craigslist.
True gardeners share their plants. We consider it an honor.

Joan R.

11:53AM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

bees love my chives and butterflies love my lilacs

Lindsay K.

11:46AM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

I have some flowers in my garden that are borderline between being flowers and weeds. I have left them to grow because they are pretty - stately toadflax, and bees just love them. I have also tried to grow varieties of flowers that attract bees and other insects, and it is working! The garden is buzzing!

aj E.

9:02AM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

I don't have enough room to attract much in the middle of the city, but I'll keep trying.

Suzanne L.

8:46AM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

We have quite a few bees that peruse our garden. I like the huge bumblers.

Christeen A.

8:01AM PDT on Jun 19, 2012

I am pollinator friendly.