Pollinators On Your Property

Pollinators

ON YOUR PROPERTY

by Jennifer Romano, communications coordinator, The Watershed Foundation

When it comes to the beauty of a garden, we are often distracted by abundant plants and flowers that steal the show. But truly, it's the pollinators

that are the real stars!

Pollinators have a critical role in the garden as they continue the plant's reproductive life cycle.

Pollinators can be bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and many other insects or animals. We often think of bees or butterflies when we think of pollinators, but did you know that birds have an important role too? More than 2,000 species of birds are involved in pollination, especially hummingbirds.

Unless you look very closely, you might not see what the pollinators are doing as they zip and buzz from petal to petal. As the pollinator moves along, feeding on plants and flowers, bits of pollen attach to their bodies and drop as they move—often in other plants who are eagerly awaiting its arrival to continue their lifecycle. The pollen is used to produce fruit or seeds.

What can you do to make the pollinator’s job a little easier? Utilize native plant species in your garden! Native species of plants have occurred naturally in an area over hundreds or thousands of years and offer a food source that the pollinator is accustomed to finding and relies upon.

“A lot of people might wonder what pollinators and native plant species have to do with water quality in our lakes, rivers, and streams,” said Lyn Crighton, executive director of The Watershed Foundation. “It’s simple. Native plants soak up water, hold soil in place, and filter pollutants. Pollinators help native plants thrive.”

According to Clear Choices Clean Water, a project co-founded by The Watershed Foundation, approximately 70 percent of pollution in our waterways comes from stormwater runoff. Native plants slow that runoff to a crawl or stop it altogether. “Native plants are important to the local ecosystem,” Crighton added. "They’re part of the balance of nature, providing habitat for pollinators and helping keep our water healthy. It’s a win-win situation."

A great example of a pollinator working well with a native species is the Purple Coneflower (echinachea) and Monarch butterflies. Purple Coneflowers rely on butterflies for pollination, and the butterflies really enjoy the Purple Coneflowers’ nectar. Purple Coneflower is beautiful, inexpensive, and easily grown. You'll enjoy the steady, many butterflies visiting all summer long—definitely another win-win!

Finding native species to plant in your garden or around your lawn is easy if you know what to look for. Some good resources for finding native species include your local Purdue Extension office, your Soil & Water Conservation District, or visit Indiana.ClearChoicesCleanWater. org where there’s a downloadable list of nurseries and garden centers that offer native plant species. Call or visit these locations and find friendly, helpful people who can get you going in the right direction.

Another thing you can do to protect pollinators is to be careful with which pesticides are used on your lawn and garden. Many commonly used pesticides have been found to have negative consequences for pollinators. To help our pollinators, consider reducing or eliminating your use of these chemicals. If you must use them, look for ones with a Bee Advisory Label.

For more information about The Watershed Foundation, visit watershedfoundation.org.

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