As flower gardens strut their stuff this summer with yards and parks awash in a rainbow of color, gardeners should take the opportunity to steal planting ideas.

Beyond being jealous of the neighbor’s hydrangeas, it’s worthwhile to give thought to putting in more plants and flowers this fall and next spring that help pollinators.

That’s the case at the Vietnam Memorial off Stoltzman Road, where the Vietnam Veterans of Southern Minnesota is helping restore native prairie plants near the Mankato memorial. Not only is the spot more beautiful now that the prairie plants have been re-established, but they will help attract bees and butterflies — the pollinators so important to our ecosystem.

Pests and pathogens, reduced habitat, lack of nutritional resources and exposure to pesticides have taken their toll on the pollinator population across the country. It is estimated that one-third of the food we consume each day relies on pollination mainly by bees, but also by other insects, birds and bats, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

As the bee and butterfly population has been threatened for some time, more people are gaining awareness of the importance of growing plants that can help all pollinators. Those of us in corn and soybean country have the opportunity to help. The delay of mowing roadside ditches can assure bees have time to do their job before vegetation is removed. Park personnel and local residents can research which plantings are beneficial to pollinators, including the best variety of milkweed to plant depending on conditions. Minnesota is a summer breeding ground for monarchs.

The local chapter of the Many Rivers Chapter of Prairie Enthusiasts is a resource as well as those in the area who specialize in selling native prairie plants. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum near Chaska is preparing its new Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center for opening in September. (One of its exhibits will feature information about a Sibley County family’s honey business that lost about one-third of its bees about 10 years ago.) In addition, a number of books, including one by the conservation organization The Xerces Society, specifically address attracting pollinators.

As we enter the final leg of summer and can see fall around the corner, it’s the perfect time to do some longtime planning to figure out what can be done to bring pollinators to every yard and garden.

 

— Mankato Free Press, Aug. 1