Million Pollinator Garden Challenge!

While creating a presentation on using native plants to attract native pollinators, I found this interesting challenge on creating over a million gardens to attract pollinators. It's inspiring and fun.
By registering your garden, you can also be included on the S.h.a.r.e. map.

Here are some of the photos I included from my garden:

Educating and inspiring others to make more spaces in their yards for pollinator friendly gardens, especially using native trees, shrubs, and flowering plants, will provide the much needed support pollinators need to survive, thrive and flourish. 

Here are some excellent websites and books for more information on how to create pollinator friendly gardens and the how and whys of using native plants:

•       Bowman’s Hill: http://www.bhwp.org/

•       PA Native Plant Society: http://www.panativeplantsociety.org/

•       Pollinator Partnership: http://www.pollinator.org/

•       Xerces Society: http://www.xerces.org/

•       Find Native Plants: http://findnativeplants.com/

•       DCNR: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/plants/nativeplants/

Books:

•       Bringing Nature Home, D. Tallamy

•       Pollinators of Native Plants, H. Holm

•       Attracting Native Pollinators, Xerces Society

•       Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants, Brooklyn Botanic Garden Guide

Clicking on the link here or using the icon on this sites' sidebar, will bring you to the site:

http://millionpollinatorgardens.org/

National Pollinator Week 2014: How YOU can help!

The US Senate, 8 years ago, designated this week, June 16-22, as National Pollinator Week to bring public awareness to the decline of pollinators.

Last year, in Wilsonville, Oregon, when 50 blooming Linden trees were sprayed with a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide, over 50,000 bumble bees died immediately while feeding on the contaminated nectar and pollen.

(Photo from: http://www.thebritishgardener.com)

The trees were immediately wrapped so other bees and other pollinators would not be subjected to the contaminated nectar and pollen. Because of this incident, many neonicotinoids insecticides have been banned.

(Photo from: https://ferrellgummit.wordpress.com)

Neonicotinoid pesticides/insecticides are used by farmers, gardeners and homeowners and include products from Ortho and Bayer and others. They are systemic, meaning they are absorbed by the plant, including the pollen and nectar.  Bees, butterflies and other pollinators die when they come in contact with these residues.

You can help by NOT using these products OR follow labeled directions carefully, if you must use them. There are many of these products, just a couple are pictured below. See website link below for a more complete list.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Don't use pesticides/insecticides or herbicides when plants are blooming or when pollinators are active, during daylight hours.

The Xerces Society provides a list of these products and further information and excellent articles:
http://www.xerces.org/wings-magazine/neonicotinoids-in-your-garden/
http://www.xerces.org/neonicotinoids-and-bees/

Please help save 

our pollinators, our bees and butterflies and moths 

and other important pollinators 

and spread the word.

Hiveless Spring

After being a beekeeper for the last 5 years, it is very strange to start spring without the hustle and bustle of preparing beehives, installing bee packages and tending to their weekly needs. We are taking a break due to back issues and busy schedules.

The meadow looks so empty:

We moved the apiary from the middle of the meadow to the enclosed blueberry field, just in case there is a change of heart or to be ueber ready for next year.

Some questions emerge:
1. How will the vegetable and flower gardens be impacted with 90,000 more or less fewer honey bees?
2. Will native pollinators fill the pollinating gap again?
3. Will there be more native pollinators with less competition from honey bees and more diversity of them?
4. How will the blueberry plants be effected? Clover?
5. How do honey bees impact native pollinator populations, initially and then over time?

Check back for some of my observations!

Xerces "Bring Back the Pollinators" Campaign

The Xerces Society has created this interesting and thoughtful campaign to bring awareness to pollinators. Visit their website: http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/ Here are some details: BRING BACK THE POLLINATORS

Take the Pledge to Protect Bees

Bring Back the Pollinators is based on four principles: grow pollinator-friendly flowers, provide nest sites, avoid pesticides, and spread the word. With these core values, pollinator conservation can be adapted to any location, whether you tend an urban community garden or a suburban yard, work in a city park or on a farm. Bring Back the Pollinators has already spread from coast to coast thanks to Rapid Refill. Now we are asking you to join in this campaign. We make the commitment to you that we will work every day to protect pollinators and their habitat. Will you make a similar commitment to the pollinators? Will you sign the pledge? TO BRING BACK THE POLLINATORS, I WILL: Grow a variety of pollinator-friendly flowers that bloom from spring through fall. Protect and provide bee nests and caterpillar host plants. Avoid using pesticides, especially insecticides. Talk to my neighbors about the importance of pollinators and their habitat. Sign the Pledge Here When you have signed the pledge, you may purchase and install our new pollinator habitat sign in your front yard, community garden, farm, or wherever you are to show your support for pollinators. Together, we can bring back the pollinators! Here are just a few things that Xerces is already doing to protect bees: Making science accessible by publishing reports such as Are Neonicotinoids Killing Bees?    Working with farmers to create pesticide-free, flower-rich habitat on farms. Engaging thousands of citizens in a nationwide search for rare bumble bees. Teaching Pollinator Conservation Short Coursesin all regions of the U.S. Maintaining the online Pollinator Conservation Resource Center.