This Spring, I decided to take a course from the Pollinator Partnership to become a Pollinator Steward. I was familiar with most of the information presented, at least in a general sense, but one concept was completely new to me: pollination syndromes. As a wildlife gardener, or anyone wanting to attract pollinators, it’s a topic ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalThe Buzz on Pollinators In recent years, there has been significant decline in pollinator populations. Why does this matter? Plants which produce seeds need to be pollinated for a number of reasons: to maintain genetic diversity, reproduce, and to develop fruit. Almost all food crops rely on pollination. Without pollinators, the earth's ecosystem isn't sustainable. ...
Read More | Container CornerAutumn is in the air, but the garden is far from finished. As I picked raspberries this morning while it was chilly enough to thwart the wasps, I thought of the pollinators and whether there were enough blossoms to keep them busy. Here are a few ideas for late-season blooms that will provide food for ...
Read More | Pest PatrolWhen we think of pollinators in our gardens, bees and butterflies often steal the spotlight. However, there's another group of unsung heroes that play a vital role in our ecosystems: hover flies, also known as flower flies or syrphid flies. These inconspicuous insects might resemble house flies, bees, or wasps, but they hold a unique ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalIn my gardens, bumble bees are some of my favorite visitors. Besides being exceptional pollinators, I think they are incredibly beautiful insects. I liken them to flying school buses because they don't appear to be particularly aerodynamic, yet there they are, buzzing away in short flights between my flowers. Unfortunately, American bumble bees are becoming ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalThe news from this year's monarch butterfly migrations appears to be good for both eastern and western populations. The news about western populations is especially good. Last year was so disastrous that people were openly predicting their inevitable extinction. Monarch migrations are complex affairs, and, due to many diverse threats, both populations' numbers have been ...
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