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<H2>Earth Gauge Tip of the Week — Protecting Pollinators </H2></DIV>
<P class=Date>6/19/2013 3:37:00 PM </P>
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<P>By <A href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/biographies/earth-gauge.aspx" target=_self>Earth Gauge</A></P>
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<P id=browserv2_0_blogitemleftcolumn_0_pTags class=Tags>Tags: <A href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/search.aspx?tags=weather">weather</A>, <A href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/search.aspx?tags=+pollinators">pollinators</A>,
<A href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/search.aspx?tags=+wildlife">wildlife</A>,
<A href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/search.aspx?tags=+Earth+Gauge">Earth
Gauge</A></P>
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<P><IMG alt="Earth Gauge logo" src="http://www.motherearthnews.com/~/media/Images/MEN/Editorial/Blogs/Nature%20and%20Environment/Earth%20Gauge%20Tip%20of%20the%20Week%20Protecting%20Pollinators/Earth-Gauge-Logo%20jpg.jpg" width=300 height=178></P>
<P>The next time you bite into a slice of melon or take a sip of coffee, think
about this: Worldwide, about 1000 plants used for food, beverages, spices,
fibers and medicines need to be pollinated by animals in order to grow the foods
and products we depend on. About 75 percent of all plants, including those
in our yards, gardens and parks, depend on pollinators. Pollinators –
hummingbirds, bats, beetles, bees, ants, wasps, butterflies and other small
animals – help plants reproduce by transporting pollen within a flower or
between flowers, resulting in healthy fruits and fertile seeds.<IMG style="MARGIN: 10px; FLOAT: right" alt="honey bee" src="http://www.motherearthnews.com/~/media/Images/MEN/Editorial/Blogs/Nature%20and%20Environment/Earth%20Gauge%20Tip%20of%20the%20Week%20Protecting%20Pollinators/Honeybee%20jpg.jpg"></P>
<H3>Viewer Tip </H3>
<P>Home gardens in urban, suburban and rural areas can play an important role in
providing habitat for pollinators and protecting them from threats. During
National Pollinator Week, June 17-23, 2013, use these tips to create a
pollinator-friendly garden habitat.</P>
<P>• Plant a variety of plants that bloom from early spring to late fall.
Planting in clumps will help pollinators find plants. Choose plants that are
native to your region (find regional planting guides <A href="http://pollinator.org/guides.htm" target=_blank>here</A>), meaning that
they are adapted to local climate, soil and pollinator species. Including plants
that bloom at night will attract bats and moths.</P>
<P>• Reduce or eliminate pesticide use. If you must use a pesticide in your yard
or garden, use the least toxic product possible. Pesticides can be particularly
harmful to bees, so read the product label carefully and apply it at night, when
bees and many other pollinators are not active.</P>
<P>• Create bee habitat. Leaving a dead tree or tree limb in your yard provides
nesting habitat for bees (make sure dead trees/limbs are not safety hazards for
people working below them). You can also create a “<A href="http://pollinator.org/PDFs/NPW/2012/BuildaBeeCondo.pdf" target=_blank>bee
condo</A>” by drilling holes of various sizes about three to five inches deep in
a piece of scrap lumber. Mount the lumber to a post or under eaves with southern
exposure.</P>
<P>• Provide nectar for hummingbirds. Make nectar by combining four parts water
to one part table sugar (do not use honey, artificial sweeteners or fruit
juices). Add something red to the feeder to attract hummingbirds, and be sure to
clean the feeder with hot, soapy water twice a week.</P>
<P>• Learn more about pollinators. Visit <A href="http://pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2013.htm" target=_blank>The
Pollinator Partnership</A> website to learn more about National Pollinator Week,
get fast facts about pollinators, access garden guides and more. </P>
<P><EM>Photo courtesy of Rob Flynn, USDA.</EM></P>
<P><EM>Sources: The Pollinator Partnership</EM> <EM><A href="http://pollinator.org/PDFs/NPW/Garden%20Guide%20for%20Pollinators%20%283%29.pdf" target=_blank>Garden Guide for Pollinators</A>, <A href="http://pollinator.org/PDFs/NPW/Pollination%20Fast%20Facts%20-%20Gardeners.pdf" target=_blank>Fast Facts for Gardeners</A>.</EM></P></DIV><BR style="CLEAR: both"><BR><BR>Read more: <A style="COLOR: #003399" href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/earth-gauge-protecting-pollinators-zbcz1306.aspx#ixzz2Wu1r7ccR">http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/earth-gauge-protecting-pollinators-zbcz1306.aspx#ixzz2Wu1r7ccR</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">Laurie Davies
Adams<BR>Executive Director<BR>Pollinator Partnership<BR>4</FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">23 Washington St.
5th Fl.<BR>San Francisco, CA 94111<BR>T: 415.362.1137<BR>F: 415.362.0176<BR><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA1.1371863074@aol.com" border=0 width=319 height=173 DATASIZE="27063" ID="MA1.1371863074" ></FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><BR>Follow up on <A href="http://twitter.com/#!/Pollinators">Twitter</A> and <A href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pollinator-Partnership/48680445464">Facebook</A>!</FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>