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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a
href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/234012-top-six-american-plants-for-pollinators/">http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/234012-top-six-american-plants-for-pollinators/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;
margin-left:0in;background:white'><b><font size=4 color="#080000" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>How to Attract
Pollinators: 6 Must-Have Plants<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#7f7f7f" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#7F7F7F;background:white'><span
style='orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
float:left;word-spacing:0px' id="pf_author">Epoch Times</span></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>Bees,
hummingbirds, bats, and beetles are all pollinators—animals that assist
in plant reproduction. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>With
recent declines in bee populations, there is a growing awareness of the
contribution pollinators make to the ecosystem, and to the human food supply.
According to a report from the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
(NAPPC), these helpful creatures fertilize 90 percent of flowering plants and
one third of human food crops.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>Habitat
loss, disease, and excessive pesticide use are responsible for the drop in
pollinator numbers. Planting pollinator-friendly flora can help encourage their
return. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>Different
flower traits attract different garden guests. Butterflies, for example, are
partial to purple flowers, while bees are especially attracted to bright white,
yellow, or blue. Bats prefer musty smelling flowers that release their scent at
night, while pollinating birds show little attraction to fragrance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>NAPPC
recommends that gardeners choose a variety of plants to provide nectar and
pollen throughout the growing season, and suggests leaving some areas of bare
ground for nesting bees. Above all, eliminate pesticide use, which kills the
pollinators as well as the pests.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>An
easy way to see what bee- and bird-attracting plants might work best for your
garden, consider the Bee Smart Pollinator Gardener app, which suggests plants
based on light and soil requirements, bloom color, and the type of pollinators
you wish to attract.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>There
are nearly 1,000 pollinator attracting plants native to <st1:place w:st="on">North
America</st1:place>. Here are six favorites:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.05pt;
margin-left:0in;line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><strong><b><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'>1. Common Milkweed</span></font></b></strong><span
class=text-node><font size=2 color="#080000"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
color:#080000'> (Asclepias syriaca)</span></font></span><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>Common
Milkweed has a unique pollination mechanism that requires both butterflies and
bees. Named for its milky sap, Common Milkweed features a cluster of pale pink
flowers that blooms from June to August, and leaves behind a large seed pod.
Considered a weed in some gardens, many insects, such as Monarch butterflies,
depend on this sun-loving plant for survival.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.05pt;
margin-left:0in;line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><strong><b><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'>2. Butterfly Weed</span></font></b></strong><span
class=text-node><font size=2 color="#080000"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
color:#080000'> (Asclepias tuberosa)</span></font></span><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>Butterfly
features brilliant yellow to orange flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and
hummingbirds. Another member of the milkweed family, Butterfly Weed is drought
tolerant.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.05pt;
margin-left:0in;line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><strong><b><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'>3. Monarda (Bee Balm)</span></font></b></strong><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><span class=text-node><font
size=1 color="#080000" face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
color:#080000'>Monarda</span></font></span><strong><b><font size=1
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'> </span></font></b></strong><span class=text-node><font
size=1 color="#080000"><span style='font-size:8.5pt;color:#080000'>has enjoyed
a long history among Native American tribes as a medicine, but it’s also
a longtime favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds as well. With a
scent similar to oregano, Monarda flowers range from red to pink to purple.</span></font></span><font
size=1 color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#080000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.05pt;
margin-left:0in;line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><span class=text-node><b><font
size=2 color="#080000" face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
color:#080000'>4. Purple Cone Flower (</span></font></b></span><strong><b><font
size=2 color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#080000'>Echinacea)</span></font></b></strong><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>Purple
Cone Flower is perhaps best known for its immune boosting
properties. Native species feature pale pink flower petals, but the easy-to-grow
perennial now comes in a rainbow of hybrids, attracting bees and butterflies
alike.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.05pt;
margin-left:0in;line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><span class=text-node><b><font
size=2 color="#080000" face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
color:#080000'>5. Solidago (</span></font></b></span><strong><b><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'>Goldenrod)</span></font></b></strong><font size=2 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><span class=text-node><font
size=1 color="#080000" face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
color:#080000'>Solidago</span></font></span><strong><b><font size=1
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'> </span></font></b></strong><span class=text-node><font
size=1 color="#080000"><span style='font-size:8.5pt;color:#080000'>has striking
yellow flowers that appear in late summer when the early bloomers have faded.
Goldenrod is often falsely accused for causing seasonal allergies (perhaps
because it flowers at about the same time as ragweed) but some herbalists
actually use it as an allergy remedy. Goldenrod attracts migrating butterflies,
bees, and beetles.</span></font></span><font size=1 color="#080000" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.05pt;
margin-left:0in;line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><strong><b><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'>6. Lavender</span></font></b></strong><font size=2
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'><o:p></o:p></span></font></h2>
<p style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1 color="#080000"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#080000'>Lavender
isn’t native to North America, but it’s been here since the 1600s
thanks to Pilgrims who brought the treasured plant over from <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>.
This calming, aromatic member of the mint family features stalks of tiny
pale-purple flowers that are a favorite among pollinators in both the New and <st1:place
w:st="on">Old World</st1:place> alike.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:11.4pt;background:white'><font size=1
color="#080000" face=Arial><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#080000'><br clear=all>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Jennifer Tsang</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Marketing Director</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Pollinator Partnership</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><a href="http://www.pollinator.org/"
title="blocked::http://www.pollinator.org/">www.pollinator.org</a> </span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>423 Washington St.</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> 5th Fl.</span></font><font color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>San Francisco</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">CA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">94111</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>T: 415.362.1137</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>F: 415.362.3070</span></font><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'><img border=0 width=212 height=115
id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.gif@01CE9775.69559FB0"></span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
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