Caring for Creation ~ Supporting the Pollinators October 8 2024

Bees, Butterflies, and Other Important Pollinators !!!

 

Pollinators are absolutely essential for the growth of many fruits and vegetables.  As you know, there are many small insects classified as Pollinators, including a variety of Bees, and Butterflies,   The key pollinators in most ecosystems are Bees (including both honeybees and native wild bees), Butterflies, Moths, Hummingbirds, Bats, and some species of flies and beetles are also pollinators.  Bees are usually considered the most important because they are diverse and they are dedicated pollinators!

 

Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. That’s one out of every three bites of food you eat. More than 3,500 species of native bees help increase crop yields.  Pollinators also help with farm crops such as alfalfa and wildflowers.  In addition to pollination, Bees use the nectar they gather from alfalfa, wildflowers, and flowering trees to make Honey.

 

Some types of honey include Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Clover, Dandelion, Manuka, and Orange Blossom.  A strong and healthy hive can be home to 50–100,000 bees during the peak of the summer.  Do a little quick math, and you can see how many beekeepers can average 60 lbs. of honey per hive, per year.  With good weather and a dedicated beekeeper, some hives can produce as much as 100  lbs!  That is a lot of Honey!

 

Butterflies are another family of pollinators that are very important, especially this time of year.  During late September and through October, we usually see beautiful Monarch Butterflies going south to spend the winter in Mexico where it is warmer.  Monarchs that breed east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to the Sierra Madre Mountains of central Mexico, where they cluster on Oyamel fir trees. 

 

There are ancient legends about the Monarchs who travel to Mexico.  In most traditions, these amazing butterflies are considered to be the returning souls of loved ones.  Ancient people believed that, even after passing on, their souls lived on through Nature. It says a great deal about how deeply they appreciated the wonders of Creation and the mysteries of Nature.  They had reverence for Nature and a better understanding of their relationship to Creation.  The tradition of celebrating the return of the Monarchs in Mexico and the United States is known as "El Dia de Los Muertos".  It is a wonderful family celebration.

 

Most Monarchs travel long distances to get to their winter home.  We can help them make this journey by planting and nurturing Pollinator Gardens.  If you don't have a Pollinator Garden in your yard, or on your back porch yet, this is the perfect time to start one.  The Nature Conservancy is an excellent resource for creating the "perfect pollinator garden".  Even though we might not have a place for Butterflies and other pollinators to rest and eat right, by putting in a simple pollinator garden now, we can be ready next Spring when the Monarchs come back!

 

When you see Monarchs flying through this Fall, remember they are on their way to Mexico.  Give them a special Blessing for their long journey!

 

Mary Christopher teaches mindfulness, breathing, and spiritual practices.  Gardening and Being in Nature are among her favorite activities.