Did you know that more than 80 percent of plant species are dependent on pollinators to grow and thrive? However, in the past 25 years, many species of pollinators have experienced drastic drops in numbers. Pollinators play a vital role in keeping our learning gardens healthy, and on June 29th, volunteers and Food Shuttle staff gathered at Geer Street Learning Garden to celebrate these amazing creatures!
First, volunteers received a tour of the garden. They even got to see Geer Street Learning Garden’s three beehives and pollinator garden! Loss of habitat is one of the most serious threats facing pollinators, and the beehives and garden provide a safe place for them to eat, rest, and live. If you are interested in helping pollinators, planting a pollinator garden with native plants is a great way to do it! Learn about how to get started here.
Then, garden staff shared an informative presentation about pollinators, their important roles, and ways to protect and support them. “Like most people, I thought pollinators were only bees and wasps,” shares Jim, a recurring garden volunteer who attended the event. “But I was really surprised to learn that there are many other kinds of pollinators too, like ants, moths, beetles, and even bats!” In fact, more than 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators across the world, including unexpected ones such as hummingbirds and lemurs. Learn more about the many types of pollinators here.
Volunteers also helped with garden maintenance projects such as watering and weeding. Just like pollinators, our volunteers play a vital role in keeping our gardens healthy! The work of these volunteers allows us to grow flowers, vegetables, and other plants without the use of pesticides, another major threat to pollinators.
Finally, everyone enjoyed an art project in the garden! Volunteers painted stepping stones with colorful nature scenes.
Thank you to everyone who attended Pollinator Garden Love Day! We hope you enjoyed your time at the garden and learned about the importance of protecting pollinators. To find out about upcoming activities at our learning gardens, click here. Thank you to everyone who attended Pollinator Garden Love Day! We hope you enjoyed your time at the garden and learned about the importance of protecting pollinators. To find out about upcoming activities at our learning gardens, click here.