Pollinator Week

Pollinator week is coming up! June 21-28th. Mark your calendars! Tell the neighbors! Plan a party! Ok, maybe not, but a girl can dream right?
Pollinators need our help, and we can't survive without them. Take some time during Pollinator Week to do something nice for these garden helpers.
Check out these AWESOME solitary bee houses if you need ideas to get you started.http://www.flickr.com/photos/87532379@N00/2423347448/in/pool-1407357@N20

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45284874@N00/2449858832/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stylurus/3831319935/in/pool-1407357@N20


There are over 4000 species of native bees in North America. It's assumed that they are suffering the same loss of habitat and food sources that's stressing honey bee populations. I say assumed because sadly no one keeps track of solitary bee populations.

Bee boxes are easy to build and can make great projects for kids.

Solitary bees and wasps are very non-confrontational, so watching them as they nest is quite safe and can be very entertaining. They will reward your bee condo construction effort with an increase in pollinators visiting your garden.
Check out http://www.xerces.org/ for more information on your area's pollinators and specific guidelines for best success.

Some of the ways I help pollinators around my garden: growing borage and other pollinator friendly plants, avoiding the use of chemicals or poisons on my land and providing various nesting areas for them.