KAWARTHA LAKES-According to National Geographic some of the planets most important pollinators are becoming extinct.
Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food we eat according to experts. They also sustain our ecosystems and produce our natural resources by helping plants reproduce.
You can Bee A Hero and help these essential critters by creating a pollinator habitat in your own backyard, farm or balcony!
The City of Kawartha Lakes is one of 39 Bee Cities in Canada. A Bee City is part of a North American movement to support pollinator protection. A Bee City begins conversations about how to grow local healthy food and the importance of biodiversity.
See what simple additions you can make to your outdoor space to help build the Kawartha Pollinator Pathway and you could create a prize- winning pollinator habitat!
Anyone can participate: residents, schools, churches, businesses and farms. By planting pollinator-friendly plants you are helping to build a corridor across City of Kawartha Lakes.
Officials say native pollinator plants are best but any single flower plant that hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides will do. Zinnias, though not native are always a good choice.
Please refer to the Bee City website for the best plants. https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/en/living-here/bee-city.aspx
Mkae sure you take a picture of your garden or container before you plant and another picture at the end of July and submit to the link below. Older and new gardens can enter.
Enter the contest here: https://forms.kawarthalakes.ca/2020-CKL-Pollinator-Garden-Challenge
Winners will be chosen in late August
3 Categories First prize, second and third in each category
Children’s garden (12 and younger) Adults Garden (13 and older) Container Garden
Here are some tips to attract bees and butterflies to your garden:
Plant Native…Choose native shrubs, trees and perennial flowers rich in pollen and nectar. Locally grown and pesticide free are best. Insert link to native plants
Mass plantings…Planting multiples of the same plant together in large groupings makes it easier for pollinators to find and collect pollen.
Choose Single blooms…Double or triple blooming flower varieties with lots of petals can block access to pollen and nectar.
Continuous bloom…Pollinators need a continuous source of pollen and nectar; so, choose a variety of plants that will bloom from spring to fall.
Plant Host Plants…Butterflies lay their eggs on specific plants. Monarchs for example will only lay their eggs on milkweed, the sole source of food for their larva.
Provide water…A bird bath or a shallow dish of water with half submerged rocks will help bees and butterflies quench their thirst.
Provide Sun… Butterflies like to bask in the sun, so place a few flat rocks in sunny, sheltered locations.
Keep it natural…Converting a lawn or garden to concrete, gravel, mulch or artificial turf reduces valuable food
and nesting sites.
Bare ground… Many native bees build nests in soil, so leave some bare patches and limit your use of mulch.
Leave dead Stems …Some bees hibernate and lay eggs in hollow stems. If you do cut, leave the bottom 8 inches or bundle the stem and place in your garden.
Leave the leaves…Leave the leaves where they fall or rake them into your garden to provide overwintering habitat for the butterflies.
Prune and deadhead …Remove dead flower heads to encourage new growth and extend your flower season. Reduce mowing…To avoid disturbing ground nesting bees, mow your lawn less often and set the blade at the
highest level possible.
Avoid Pesticides…Don’t plant seeds or plants treated with systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids. And don’t spray pesticides. Pesticide Bylaws ban the cosmetic use of pesticides.
Turn off Lights…Help our nocturnal pollinators such a moths by remembering to turn out your outdoor lights
</divphoto credit: TJ Gehling Sipping gumflower via photopin (license)
