Invaluable Pollinators Need Places to Live, Work, Play
The Harvest Moon the end of September was a spectacular sight to behold. We are only able to harvest though due to our native pollinators. Even one single native plant or tree that supports bees, butterflies and other pollinators can make a difference in our gardens. Are you noticing fewer butterflies and bees in your own backyard? The populations of native bees, butterflies, and other insect pollinators has been declining for several decades. I have some common milkweed in my garden, and I have seen fewer and fewer caterpillars.
About three-fourths of all flowering plants are pollinated by insects, as well as the crops that produce much of the world’s food supply.
Without insects, the birds, fish and small mammals that depend on them decline; if they decline, the entire food web and local ecosystem is affected. So, by planting one native flower, tree or pollinator host plant (and hopefully many more than just one) provides pollinator nesting sites and creates refuge from pesticides. Many people find insects annoying, but we should really start thinking about the fact that we can’t survive without them. Native bees are the most important pollinators in the ecosystem. Mason bees and leafcutter bees are most critical to growing food and flowers. Making holes in a dead tree for a bee house and planting herbs such as sage, thyme, borage, lavender, chives, dill, basil, oregano, rosemary and mint will draw in pollinating insects, including flies, beetles, moths and butterflies.
Avoid cutting down everything in the fall because dead material and hollow stems are perfect homes for pollinators and beneficial insects. And, in the “spring clean” timeframe wait until temperatures have reached 50 degrees, allowing time for the overwintering of the bees and butterflies. If you notice any bees still nesting, move them to a corner of your property to give bees a few more weeks to emerge on their own. Nebraska Statewide Arboretum even has “Leave the Leaves” signs available for purchase to help educate the importance of leaving the leaves for winter habitat for our insect friends. We need to work with Nature, not against it.
- Co-President, Janet Lindsteadt