June 21-27, 2021 is National Pollinator Week. Pollinator Week was initiated in 2007 when the United States Senate unanimously approved a week in June to be designated as "National Pollinator Week". This decision was a critical step to address the decline in pollinators across the globe.
Scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat are made possible by pollinators. Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes: bees, butterflies, birds, bats, beetles, moths, flies, and more contribute to pollination. Celebrate pollinators by inviting them into your landscape in the following ways.
Consider adding some native plants to your landscape to support the local pollinator population. Choose a variety of plants to welcome more than just monarchs.
Penstemon and salvia for hummingbirds
Echinacea (coneflower) for birds and butterflies
Chokecherry for ants, bees, and flies
Sunflowers for bees
Offer pollinators water. Provide a shallow puddle for butterflies, which practice "puddling' in order to get nutrients from mud or rotting plant matter. Just a tiny spot will do, though you'll need to replenish water as it evaporates. You can use a small saucer and add sand, a bit of compost, and water. Create a bee watering station by filling a saucer or pie plate with rocks or marbles and adding water. Don't entirely cover the rocks with water. Bees will perch on the rocks and go to the water's edge for a drink.
As people learn more about pollinators and all of the benefits pollinators provide, they become advocates for the pollinators they come to love and understand. Inviting pollinators into your landscape is good for them, and it's good for your garden.
References
Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (2020, June 19). Tip of the Week: Support pollinators. https://www.alcc.com/tip-of-the-week-email
Journey North. Arboretum, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Pollinator Week. https://journeynorth.org/pollintorpatches/featured/2021-national-pollinator-week