HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-05-09, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019.
Home and Garden 2019
Bees, birds, butterflies crucial to crops, gardens
MS –Bees, birds and butterflies
play integral roles in pollinating
many of the crops humans rely on
for sustenance.
In the United States, the National
Pollinator Garden Network, through
the National Wildlife Federation,
recently launched the Million
Pollinator Garden Challenge, an
effort to increase the amount of
nectar and pollen food sources as the
organization aims to reverse the
alarming decline of pollinators such
as honey bees, native bees and
monarch butterflies.
Many people are afraid of bees
because of their propensity to sting.
Unlike their wasp and yellow-jacket
cousins, honeybees and bumblebees
are much more docile and content to
hop from bloom to bloom without
paying humans any mind. The only
time such bees may resort to stinging
is if someone inadvertently steps on
them.
Bees are beneficial for yards.
Gardener’s Supply Company says
one out of every three bites of food
humans take depends on a pollinator.
That’s because about 150 crops
grown in the United States depend
on pollinators. Even though there are
4,000 species of native or wild bees
in the continental United States,
many populations are in decline.
According to the Pollinator
Partnership, various areas of North
America have lost more than 50
percent of their managed honeybee
colonies in the past 10 years.
Bringing these important
pollinators back will take a little
work, but it is possible.
• Plants that offer cover can be
attractive to bees that desire a respite
from the sun and heat. Coleus and
other ground cover offerings can be
handy.
• Offer water in shallow dishes, as
even bees need a cool drink to stay
hydrated.
• Bees like various plants, so plant
more than one species. Some plants
that bees tend to like include
alyssum, aster, geranium, bee balm,
poppies, and clover.
• When planting, include some
native species.
• Brush piles, dry grasses and dead
woods offer nesting areas for bees.
• The Gardener’s Supply Company
also says that bees find blue, purple
and yellow flowers most appealing.
Opt for more of these hues when
planning gardens.
• Above all, avoid using pesticides
in the yard. Even organic ones can
be toxic to bees and other
pollinators, and they may contribute
to colony collapse disorder.
With these techniques in mind,
homeowners can attract more bees to
their yards and gardens, which can
benefit bees and humans alike.
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Nature’s biggest helpers
Flying insects and animals, like the honey bee, provide an essential role in the continued
existence of many other creatures on the planet: pollination. Through visiting different flowers,
these insects and animals allow vegetation to reproduce and grow. (MS photo)
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