Spring has sprung and for many, the sights and smells of the season bring joy. There is a practical aspect to all this as well, and that’s pollination.
Bees, butterflies, and bats are all prominent pollinators, but their population is shrinking. That's a problem since they pollinate about 30% of the food that ends up on our tables.
Which is why some groups are planting a promise to the environment.
“Definitely much better, much prettier,” said Shannon Scheuneman, point garden coordinator for the Kenmore Village Improvement Society, as she placed flowers down to be planted.
What You Need To Know
- Dwindling habitat, disease, and environmental contaminants listed as reasons for pollinator decline
- Bee Ambassadors spread the work about bee-friendly plants, activities
- Encourage people to change their attitudes on what's beautiful
The Village of Kenmore Improvement Society has a system going. It’s more than just making an area look prettier.
“We're trying to spread the message that you can be a part of the solution by creating gardens on your property,” said Joanna Panasiewicz, who serves on their board of directors.
They're bee-utifying this village corner.
“Bees pollinate all of our foods, so no bees, no food," explained Panasiewicz. "Everyone likes to eat right?”
The KVIS has around a thousand people in its Bee Ambassador program. They're planting the seed to spread the word and help bump up declining bee populations.
“Everyone can do a little bit,” said Panasiewicz.
The USDA says pollinator numbers are going down because of dwindling habitat, disease, and environmental contaminants. Projects like the one the KVIS does have that in mind.
“Planting native plants in their gardens, reducing the chemicals on their lawns, or even converting some of their lawns to gardens so that the pollinators have food in order to survive,” said Panasiewicz.
And it doesn’t take much.
“The hard part is over," said Scheuneman. "All the weeding and everything is…we already did that earlier.”
Sometimes it’s literally about not lifting a finger.
“Letting the dandelions grow or letting clover creep in or something like that," said Panasiewicz. "It's about changing attitudes on what's beautiful.”
Whether on a street corner or in your own backyard, anywhere is a good place to start.
“Got to save the bees right,” added Scheuneman.
While their project was mostly focused on flowers, Bee Ambassadors also spread the word to encourage people to plant trees. When it comes to those benefits, they include soaking up storm water, preventing flooding, and providing shade.
