The Buzz On Pollinators
Let’s focus on pollinator gardens - Written and photographed by Sandra Ozkur
Janet is an avid gardener in Niagara-on-the-Lake and is sensitive to the ecological changes in our environment due to pollution, increasing population, and effects of climate change. So, being a conscientious citizen, she was surprised to learn that her beautiful yard, filled with ornamental plants and trees, might in fact be contributing to the decreasing population of birds, bees, moths, butterflies and other pollinating insects.
Little did she know that increased regulations on horticultural sprays has turned the pesticide industry toward a systemic approach for controlling fungal and pest infestations. Chemicals are often applied to soil the plants are grown in, or are used as seed coatings that absorb into the plant at the cellular level. When the plant grows, the chemicals are forever present within the leaves, pollen and nectar of the plant.
Janet realized that by planting seeds, flowers, or trees that have been treated with systemic fungicides and pesticides, she was in fact contributing to the death of many insects who might be using these plants as their food source. When an insect eats a plant that has been treated with a systemic chemical, it enters its digestive system and poisons it. Which means that anything that feeds upon those insects will be passing the poisons up the food chain with devastating effects at higher and higher concentrations.
Janet sighed, “I thought I was doing a good thing by planting beautiful flowers in my yard. I believed that my efforts were helping feed the pollinating insects and to find out I am actually killing them is devastating! That is when I became curious about what my neighbour had done to her front yard. She had replaced her entire front lawn with a pollinator friendly garden using only indigenous plants native to Niagara. When I got up close and looked carefully, I realized that it had a myriad of blossoms and alive with bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Although her front yard looked less formal, the garden was purposeful and gave a natural beauty to the house. This ecologically friendly flowerbed provided habitat for pollinators to reproduce which in turn attracts birds who eat their larvae. It also provided an abundance of nourishing pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies to feed upon all summer long.
“A weed is a flower in the wrong place, a flower is a weed in the right place” by Ian Emberson.
Many original plant species have been destroyed because they are regarded as weeds as they can grow aggressively and may overtake foreign varieties. It is time we change our perception of beauty and realize that planting foreign species requires us to manipulate the habitat to suit their needs. Instead of working with nature, we are constantly working against it, and in the process destroying our beneficial insects which no longer have their necessary habitat in which feed and breed.
Pollinator populations are in steep decline, and you don’t need a degree in biology to know that farmers depend upon insects to pollinate crops which feed people. Unfortunately, we take these innocuous species for granted believing that they will always be available to serve our needs. We need to change our gardening practices to preserve our soil, native plants, and trees to protect our pollinator populations and preserve our food supply.
It is time to change our focus away from just the superficial appearance of our yard and toward a more functional garden. You can begin by incorporating native trees and plants into your existing landscape or by replacing a patch of lawn with a pollinator friendly plot instead. Start small, and let it evolve as you learn how to integrate beautiful native plants. Your efforts will be doing good for the environment and the sustainability of our precious pollinators.
This article has been compiled by a tribe of local gardeners who would like to encourage everyone to start planting a variety of native plants so we can create a web of pollinator gardens throughout the region.
In the subsequent articles, we will be providing you with tips and resources so you can plant you own pollinator friendly garden next spring.
Tip of the week: Follow professor Doug Tallamy on YouTube or read his book. Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy
Let’s focus on pollinator gardens - Written and photographed by Sandra Ozkur
Janet is an avid gardener in Niagara-on-the-Lake and is sensitive to the ecological changes in our environment due to pollution, increasing population, and effects of climate change. So, being a conscientious citizen, she was surprised to learn that her beautiful yard, filled with ornamental plants and trees, might in fact be contributing to the decreasing population of birds, bees, moths, butterflies and other pollinating insects.
Little did she know that increased regulations on horticultural sprays has turned the pesticide industry toward a systemic approach for controlling fungal and pest infestations. Chemicals are often applied to soil the plants are grown in, or are used as seed coatings that absorb into the plant at the cellular level. When the plant grows, the chemicals are forever present within the leaves, pollen and nectar of the plant.
Janet realized that by planting seeds, flowers, or trees that have been treated with systemic fungicides and pesticides, she was in fact contributing to the death of many insects who might be using these plants as their food source. When an insect eats a plant that has been treated with a systemic chemical, it enters its digestive system and poisons it. Which means that anything that feeds upon those insects will be passing the poisons up the food chain with devastating effects at higher and higher concentrations.
Janet sighed, “I thought I was doing a good thing by planting beautiful flowers in my yard. I believed that my efforts were helping feed the pollinating insects and to find out I am actually killing them is devastating! That is when I became curious about what my neighbour had done to her front yard. She had replaced her entire front lawn with a pollinator friendly garden using only indigenous plants native to Niagara. When I got up close and looked carefully, I realized that it had a myriad of blossoms and alive with bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Although her front yard looked less formal, the garden was purposeful and gave a natural beauty to the house. This ecologically friendly flowerbed provided habitat for pollinators to reproduce which in turn attracts birds who eat their larvae. It also provided an abundance of nourishing pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies to feed upon all summer long.
“A weed is a flower in the wrong place, a flower is a weed in the right place” by Ian Emberson.
Many original plant species have been destroyed because they are regarded as weeds as they can grow aggressively and may overtake foreign varieties. It is time we change our perception of beauty and realize that planting foreign species requires us to manipulate the habitat to suit their needs. Instead of working with nature, we are constantly working against it, and in the process destroying our beneficial insects which no longer have their necessary habitat in which feed and breed.
Pollinator populations are in steep decline, and you don’t need a degree in biology to know that farmers depend upon insects to pollinate crops which feed people. Unfortunately, we take these innocuous species for granted believing that they will always be available to serve our needs. We need to change our gardening practices to preserve our soil, native plants, and trees to protect our pollinator populations and preserve our food supply.
It is time to change our focus away from just the superficial appearance of our yard and toward a more functional garden. You can begin by incorporating native trees and plants into your existing landscape or by replacing a patch of lawn with a pollinator friendly plot instead. Start small, and let it evolve as you learn how to integrate beautiful native plants. Your efforts will be doing good for the environment and the sustainability of our precious pollinators.
This article has been compiled by a tribe of local gardeners who would like to encourage everyone to start planting a variety of native plants so we can create a web of pollinator gardens throughout the region.
In the subsequent articles, we will be providing you with tips and resources so you can plant you own pollinator friendly garden next spring.
Tip of the week: Follow professor Doug Tallamy on YouTube or read his book. Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by Douglas W. Tallamy
