Caring for Creation by Supporting Pollinators !!!

What Is Better Than Caring about Creation ... ?

How about Participating with Creation ... ?

 

We have an opportunity right now to work with Creation to support all kinds of wonderful Pollinators, right here in the Northern Hemisphere.  In past Creation Care articles and podcasts, we have discussed how important it is to provide the plants and habitat that all Pollinators need every year.  It is so important that our Pollinator Partners, have the plants they need to survive and to support the next generation of Pollinators.  

 

Fall is a great time to put in a few plants specifically for Pollinators, or start some seeds.  Planting now gives those plants and seeds time to put down roots, and sprout when the weather warms up.  Plants we start now will be available in the Spring when all the Pollinators show up!  Even late fall is a better time to plant than none at all!

 

When we create Gardens specifically for Pollinators, even small gardens at home, at our business, or in our churchyards, we are providing a "safe space" for them to survive and thrive.  We know several varieties of Bees, Butterflies, Bats, Beetles, Birds, and even Moths are reliable pollinators.  They play a vital role in pollinating crops like apples, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, melon, peaches, potatoes, vanilla, almonds, coffee, and chocolate!

 

To help pollinators, we can incorporate native plants into our lawn or garden. You can also plant fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs, like blueberry, raspberry, elderberry, currants, and apple.  Even if you don't have a yard, you can put a flower box on your balcony and plant herbs like mint, cilantro, dill, and oregano which will attract pollinators.

 

Climate change is causing pollinators to shift their ranges and lag behind these changing climatic conditions.  All these wonderful and amazing creatures depend on us (human beings) to help them survive unpredictable shifting weather patterns.  It is difficult enough for humans to deal with some of these more extreme changes, and we even have the Weather Channel!

 

We can make a difference!  And, we can get it done without too much time or effort.  If you are interested, search online for your state Native Plant Society, or look up the Nature Conservancy.  Last weekend I found a local Native Plant Society "seed swap" on Facebook.  They were set up in a nearby community center.  All I had to do was walk in the door and start asking people behind the tables how to get started.  An hour or so later, I left with lots of seeds, phone numbers, pamphlets, a large 2025 planting calendar, and a brand-new Fiskars steel trowel !!!  The trowel was a door prize, just for showing up !!!  I was a Happy Camper !!!

 

All these folks were knowledgeable and happy to answer my questions.  If you plant in your yard now, or in a pot on your porch, you will be so pleased when you step outside and see your first Monarch or Bee pollinating an early blossom.  If you are prepared with your camera, you can get a photo and post it online!

 

Remember, our Amazing Pollinators are counting on you !!!

 

Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, 

breathing practices, and building personal resilience.  

Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.