Celebrate National Pollinator Week (June 19-25, 2017)

Ten years ago, the U.S. senate designated one week in June as National Pollinator Week. Like Earth Day, National Pollinator week celebrates one of our countries greatest resources – its pollinators.   Living pollinators enable 80% of the earth’s plant species to reproduce.  Included are many of the fruits, nuts, seeds and grains we eat.  Our world would be a very different place without pollinators!

One purpose of National Pollinator Week is to educate all Americans about the diversity and importance of our native pollinators.  Another purpose is to motivate us to take action. So take a little time this week to celebrate the great diversity of our California pollinators.  Here are a few simple actions you can take: 

1.   Visit the National Pollinator Week website: http://www.pollinator.org/pollinatorweek/

 

2.   Participate in a local Pollinator Week activity

 

3.   Learn about local native pollinators: a good place to start is: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2016/07/insect-postings-mother-natures-backyard.html

 

4.   Plant a pollinator habitat plant: if you live in S. California (or other place with hot, dry summers) you may want to wait to purchase and plant until next fall/winter.  But choose a habitat plant or two (those native to your area are best) and dedicate a part of your garden to pollinator habitat.  Learn more at:

 

http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html

http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/bee-pollinators-habitat311

 http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/south-bay-native-plants-for-butterfly-nectar-111

http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/hummingbird-habitat-311

http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/pollinator-moth-habitat311

 

5.   Photograph pollinators, in your garden or in the wilds. Then upload your photos to iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/) to add to our knowledge of native pollinators.   You might even discover a new species in the process!!