Projects are plenty during National Pollinator Week

As approved and designated by the U.S. Senate, June 16-22 is the seventh annual National Pollinator Week, and there are many projects you can do in our community and your own yard to help celebrate these necessary but often misunderstood creatures.

Pollinator Week was initiated and is managed by the Pollinator Partnership, who calls Pollinator Week “a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations ... an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.”

Pollination Planet Founder and Executive Director Gretchen Heine said “Pollinators are vital to our delicate ecosystem, and their numbers are declining rapidly. A full third of our food supply depends upon the survival of pollinators, and it’s up to us to save them. We can make a difference, community by community, but the time is now.”

Locally, Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex has free pollinator posters, gardening guides, stickers and bookmarks available on a first come/served basis to anyone who wants to learn more about the fascinating world of pollinators. Stop by their office at 1020 New River Parkway, #305 in Fallon for these informative materials. Hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Pollinators in our area include several types of bees, wasps, moths and butterflies; many beetles and even some spiders; birds such as orioles and hummingbirds that rely on flowering plants for food, and bats attracted to night-blooming plants for nectar. Many of our local crops such as alfalfa and corn depend on pollination to thrive in this desert oasis.

The local County Extension or USDA Offices can provide more information on how you can plant and protect pollinators in our area or project ideas you can make with recycled materials to help provide pollinator homes.

If you don’t have your own garden, visit a local nursery to see what’s buzzing about the seasonal flowers, fruit trees, and vegetables. Stop and smell the roses, petunias, pansies, and discover the many tiny creatures that help spread the cycle of plant life in our backyards and communities.

Learn to identify the pollinators in our area and think twice the next time you take a swat at that annoying insect – it could be one that is responsible for making part of your next meal!