2016 National Pollinator Week underway

Photo by Karen E. Varga

2016 National Pollinator Week is June 20-26, and amidst environmental concerns for agriculture, wildlife, and public health, advocating for pollinators has become increasingly prominent in recent years due to alarming declines in populations in recent years. Here are some ways horticultural organizations and retailers across the United States are educating and serving the public this week:

Plant a Window Box for Pollinators
This spring, the United States Department of Agriculture launched its “Plant a Window Box for Pollinators” campaign. It features a free online tool that guides visitors in growing native plants based on their zip code and ecoregion. Upon completion of the activity, users can print out their results to take to their local garden center to select the appropriate plants for attracting pollinators. The recently redesigned website also features a virtual game built to be fun and educational for all ages. The idea is that everyone can help provide pollinators with a habitat, even if they don’t have a garden or lots of space.

Hillermann Nursery & Florist: pollinator talk

Every year Hillermann Nursery & Florist in Washington, Mo., hosts a slew of exciting events for Pollinator Week. This year visitors learned about the St. Louis County Parks Pollinator Pantry Garden program as Hillermann welcomed “Butterfly Ambassador” MaryAnn Fink for a discussion on the easiest way to attract Monarchs, Swallowtails, and Hummingbirds to a garden.

The Ohio State University: native plants

Native plants are essential in propagating pollinator populations, and The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences will host an event in Tipp City, Ohio, as part of their “Coffee with the Master Gardeners” series. Miami County Gardener Volunteer Pete Holmes will discuss how these native plants anchor local landscapes and benefit their ecosystems. Guests will “learn what the plants are, why they are important and what they can do to make a positive impact in our community.” Registry deadline is Thursday, June 24.

Horticultural Research Institute: Trees For Bees poster

The Horticultural Research Institute has introduced the new “Trees for Bees” poster, which illustrates the various ways that pollinators use and need trees, including foraging, nesting and helping plants grow.

“Adding this eye-catching poster to store signage and pollinator display areas is an easy way garden retailers can tell that story to their customers and encourage the purchase of flowering trees," says HRI administrator Jennifer Gray. Browse this and other promotional pollinator posters here.

National Pollinator Garden Network: building camaraderie

Whether it’s a thumbs-up “like” or a “follow,” social media users seek out others whose interests coincide with their own because it helps them feel connected. The National Pollinator Garden Network has expanded this idea and made it relevant to its goals; as part of the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, they have launched the “Bee Counted” tracker, an interactive map that reveals pollinator sites and wildlife federations all over the country. An optimistic and encouraging website to get consumers onboard, they also post a robust call-to-action for readers: “Preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other pollinators across America.”

BeeNow – The Bee Health Magazine

Launched in 2015 by Bee Care, a conservation website run by Bayer Global, this publication extensively outlines the worldwide pollinator issue and the actions being taken to address it. Bee Care features up-to-date and credible information from leading horticulture and pollination experts from around the globe. The magazine — which recently published its second annual issue — is available both in hard copy by mail order and by digital-version download, and can be enjoyed by readers in either English or German.