Who are the Pollinators?

PV SCHOOL GARDENS

Who are the Pollinators?

Second Grade Spring Planting

Today's Lesson TOPICS WE WILL COVER Who are the Pollinators?

What is Pollination?

Why are Pollinators Important?

What Can You Do? Planting a Pollinator Garden Video: Garden Discussion Pollinator Lesson Link HERE Pollinator Resources

WHO ARE THE POLLINATORS?

REMEMBER THIS:

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

Audrey Hepburn

Who are the Pollinators?

AT THE ROOT OF IT Birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, small mammals, and most importantly, bees are pollinators. They visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off of pollen and transport pollen grains as they move from flower to flower.

BIRDS Birds visit flowers during the daytime.

Birds use their beaks to reach inside flowers to drink nectar.

Birds don’t rest on flower petals to eat.

Pollen is left on the bird’s head and neck, and is then transferred to the next flower it visits.

Birds have good vision but a weak sense of smell.

Birds are attracted to bright colors, like orange and red.

BATS Bats visit flowers during the night-time.

Bats feed on the nectar deep inside the flower.

Bats are attracted to large flowers with strong smells of fermenting or fruit.

Bats like to visit flowers that are white, green or purple because they are visible at night.

The face and head of bats become covered with pollen, which is then transferred to the next flower.

BUTTERFLIES Butterflies visit flowers during the day. They prefer early morning when nectar is quite watery.

Butterflies use their long mouth parts to reach inside flowers and their drink nectar.

Butterflies sit on flower petals when they eat.

Butterflies are attracted to flowers that have bright colors, like purple, red or orange.

Butterflies have good vision but a poor sense of smell.

MOTHS Moths visit flowers during the night-time.

Moths use their long mouth parts to reach inside flowers to drink nectar.

Moths are attracted to flowers that are pale and dull red, purple, pink or white.

Moths are attracted to sweet smelling flowers.

FLIES Flies visit flowers during the daytime.

Flies land on the flower petals.

Flies like flowers that smell similar to rotting meat because they lay their eggs on rotten meat.

Flies prefer flowers that are low to the ground.

Flies like flowers that are pale and dull, dark brown or purple.

BEETLES Beetles visit flowers that are open during the daytime.

Beetles will eat their way through petals and other floral parts.

Beetles are attracted to flowers that are white or green.

Beetles are attracted to flowers that smell spicy, sweet or fermented.

WASPS Wasps visit flowers during the daytime.

Wasps land on the flower petals to gather nectar.

Wasps are attracted to sweet smelling flowers.

Wasps look for bright colors, like violet, blue, and yellow.

Wasps also prey on other insects.

SMALL MAMMALS Small mammals visit flowers that are open during the daytime and the evening.

Small mammals will eat their way through petals and other floral parts.

Small mammals are attracted to flowers through scent.

Small mammals are attracted to flowers that smell spicy, sweet or fermented.

BEES Bees visit flowers during the daytime.

Bees land on the flower petals to gather nectar.

Bees are attracted to sweet smelling flowers.

Bees look for bright colors, like violet, blue, and yellow.

Bees can see colors in the UV range.

POLLINATOR FACTS Honey bees account for 80% of all insect pollination.

Insects don't pollinate on purpose; it's just something that happens as they collect nectar from flowers to feed on.

What is Pollination?

POLLINATION. [ PŎL′Ə-NĀ′SHƏN ]

POLLINATION = SEEDS = SURVIVAL

The process by which flowering plants reproduce. It involves the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organs to the female reproductive organs to form seeds. In flowering plants, pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma by wind, water, birds, insects or other small mammals.

The goal of every living organism is to create more offspring, or reproduce. Reproduction is essential for the survival of all species.

Plants produce seeds in order to reproduce. In order to produce a seed, a flower must be pollinated. A few plants can self-pollinate and do not need a pollinator to help transfer the pollen. Most flowering plants require pollinators.

POLLLINATION PROCESS 1.The flower petal’s bright colors and fragrant scents attract pollinators.

2.The pollinator arrives on the flower to collect nectar. This nectar is a sweet liquid which makes perfect pollinator food.

3. As the pollinator is gathering the nectar, it rubs against the anthers, which rub pollen onto the pollinators.

4. After the pollinator is done feeding on that flower’s nectar, it goes on to collect nectar from another flower.

5. As the pollinator feeds on the nectar in the new flower, the pollen stuck to the pollinator from the first flower rubs off onto the female parts of the second flower, also called the stigma.

6. Part of this pollen travels down the style and then into the ovary.

7. The tiny piece of pollen joins onto an ovule in the ovary. The plant has now been fertilized.

8. The ovules of the flower turn into seeds which will then be dispersed so that new plants will be able to grow somewhere else.

FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Why Are Pollinators Important?

WHO ARE THE POLLINATORS?

Pollinators support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, protect from severe weather and support other wildlife.

FOR OUR HEALTH Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 different plant species and more than 1,200 crops. That means that one out of every three bites of fresh food you eat is there because of pollinators.

FOR SUSTAINABILITY Without pollinators, 90% of the world's flowering species would not be able to reproduce. That is hundreds of thousands of plant species that stabilize our soils, help us breathe and feed us.

What Can You Do? PLANT A POLLINATOR GARDEN

PRACTICE ORGANIC METHODS

Plant a variety of trees, shrubs and annual flower with blooms that differ in size, shape, color and flowering time. Planting native milkweeds also can help support migrating monarch butterfly populations.

Avoid using insecticides whenever possible. If you do use them, research the least toxic options and apply only where and when they will be most effective and least harmful to pollinators.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMER

SPREAD THE WORD

Support Farmers and Beekeepers by buying local honey and locally produced organic foods and support your local businesses that do the same.

Encourage friends and family to join you in support of the pollinators! Volunteer with the local PVP Land Conservancy. Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Foundation

WHO ARE THE POLLINATORS?

90%

33%

of flowering crops need pollinators to reproduce

of the food we eat every day relies on pollinators to grow

Plant a Pollinator Garden

WHO ARE THE POLLINATORS?

WHERE DO WE START? Chose native plants to your area so that you will attract and support your native pollinators. Choose pollen and nectar rich flowers with a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Try to select plants that will bloom at different times of the year so that there is always a food source.

CA Pollinator Habitat Plants NATIVES

ANNUALS

PERENNIALS

TREES/SHRUBS

Beneficial native insects, birds and other critters depend on native plant species as their food and shelter. Including native plant species in your habitat garden will attract native fauna that provide benefits such as pollination of plants and insect pest control.

Clarkia Cosmos Fiddleneck CA Poppy Arroyo Lupine Marigold Purple Owl's Clover Sunflower Tidy Tips Zinnia

Bladderpod CA Buckwheat Four O'Clock Ocean Locoweed Bush Lupine Catalina Mariposa Lily Narrowleaf Milkweed Bush Monkey Flower Golden Yarrow Deer Weed

Coyote Brush CA Sagebrush Lemonadeberry Manzanita Mexican Elderberry Black, Hummingbird & Purple Sage Toyon CA Bush Sunflower CA Gooseberry CA Wild Rose

Preparing to Garden ANSWER THESE BEFORE STARTING

What type of garden are you planting?

Where will it go?

What plants will you grow?

How much time will you spend?

Do you have the materials and tools?

Pollinator garden with natives, perennials and annuals. The garden will attract pollinators and it will be a source of nectar and pollen as well as a habitat garden for refuge.

In the ground, in a raised bed or in a patio container. Choose full sun for best results.

There are pollinator plants for shaded areas if that is all that you have to work with.

CA natives, perennials, annual color, and even herbs. You can choose an all native garden, pick up whatever is available at your garden center or do a mix of both.

You can decide how big and how much you want to plant. Start small with just a few potted plants or plant a larger space in your yard. Perennial native plants require much less care once established.

For watering you will need a hose, irrigation system or watering can.

For planting, you will need hand tools, gloves and shovels. You may also need to purchase soil depending on what type of plants you have chosen.

Ready to Garden

DO YOU NEED TO PREPARE THE SOIL?

PLANT YOUR SEEDS AND SAPLINGS

NURTURE YOUR GARDEN

If planting natives, no amendment needed. They love the native soil.

Other kinds of garden plants may require some amendment.

Locate your water source. Lay out your planting arrangement. Use your hand tools, gloves and shovels to plant.

Water will be most crucial just after planting and during the drier parts of the year.

By creating a natural garden that provides food, water, cover, and places to raise young, you are providing the essential elements of wildlife habitat.

Enhance your wildlife garden with a bird feeder or butterfly puddler.

IN THE GARDEN with Farmer Anique

www.pvschoolgardens.org

PALOS VERDES CONSERVANCY

Additional Resources

PENINSULA

LAND

https://pvplc.org/_education/native_plants.asp CA NATIVE PLANT COAST CHAPTER

SOCIETY

SOUTH

https://sccnps.org/local-plants-suitable-for-gardening/ CALFLORA https://www.calflora.org/ THEODORE PAYNE FOUNDATION FOR WILD FLOWERS & NATIVE PLANTS http://theodorepayne.org/