NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/708333
70 NEBRASKAland • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 D o you like chocolate? How about coffee? Anyone up for some apples or almonds? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you need pollinators. Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, birds, ants and many other species, play a critical role in our food production, economy and natural landscapes. Although small, these species are responsible for pollination – a process of transferring pollen from one plant to another, allowing for new seed production. In fact, one in three bites of our food can be attributed to pollinators. Without pollinators we wouldn't have peppermint, tea or many varieties of fruits and nuts. Even meat and dairy products require pollinators – leaf cutter bees and honeybees pollinate alfalfa, which is a major source of food for cattle. Pollinators are worth nearly $20 billion to the U.S. economy annually and keep the delicate food web in balance. Recently, though, pollinators have been struggling. Habitat loss, disease and pesticides have contributed to their falling numbers. The good news is that by helping pollinators expand their habitat, you can be part of the solution. This space could be a backyard, land around a business or school or land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) – nearly any space where you can plant freely can be put to work for the benefit of pollinators. What should you put there? Here are some tips. • Variety, variety, variety. Plant a wide variety of flowering plants with differing colors, petal shapes and blooming seasons. Blooming times are especially important – pollinators need nectar-producing flowers continuously from April to October, covering their entire life cycle. • Go local. Native and local plant species are most attractive to bees and caterpillars and as host plants for larvae. Stay away from invasive species, rare species and modern hybrid flowers, especially those with "doubled" flowers. Your local garden center and extension office can help you shop for local seeds and native plants. • Provide shallow water sources. Pollinators need water as much as we do. Set out a couple of shallow dishes in the shade. • Get a bit messy. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And, although they may not be beautiful to you, dandelions are gorgeous to many pollinator species. They're the first thing to bloom in spring and are rich in nectar. Patches of bare soil, brush piles and dead tree branches for nesting are great as well. • Cut back or eliminate insecticides and herbicides. Pesticides kill or harm most insects, not just the nuisance ones. If you must, spray on dry, calm nights, use the minimum recommended dose and avoid flowering plants and host plants. As for herbicides, try spot-treating or hand-pulling weeds. • And lastly, remember that the little things count. "You don't have to own 500 acres of land to make a meaningful difference," said Lindsay Rogers, Nebraska Game and Parks wildlife education specialist. "If I plant five milkweed plants in my yard in the middle of Lincoln, or put out a pot of flowering plants on the balcony at my apartment, I'm making a difference." ■ Make Your Own Pollinator Garden Help protect vitally important, struggling species. By Renae Blum Nearly any space that can be planted freely, like this garden on private land in Lancaster County, can be beneficial to pollinators. PHOTO BY BENJAMIN VOGT PHOTO BY BENJAMIN VOGT PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN dern th the i mi i nimum recommended dose a d nd PHO