POLLINATORS
Pollinators are insects or animals that help move pollen from the female parts of one flower to the male parts of another flower, this helps with fertilization. When we think pollinators, many of us may think of bees, while bees are a key pollinator many insects, mammals, and even birds can be pollinators!
WILDFLOWERS
Native wildflowers are extremely important to our native bee and insect populations. Although many different types of flowers do provide a food source for these species, the timing and fit can sometimes be out of sync.
Native bees have evolved along with native wildflowers for many years, they "fit" well together. As the bees wake up in the Spring hungry and looking for food, wildflowers are just budding out and beginning to bloom providing a key early food source for these animals.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
With our ever-changing climate, it is more important now than ever to take the small steps that can have a big impact. Almost all of the food we produce and consume must be pollinated, without pollinators we could be looking at a very different future.
Planting a space in your garden or a container with native wildflowers is a small step that can helps bees and other insects to have a food source during the hard first weeks of Spring.
