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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Forwarded by Tom VA<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Charlie Gischlar [mailto:CGischlar@sha.state.md.us] <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 17, 2015 3:35 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'tva@pollinator.org'<br><b>Subject:</b> The Birds, The Bees…And The Butterflies; SHA is Dedicated to Preserving Pollinators Statewide<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><img width=160 height=160 id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://us.vocuspr.com/Publish/513966/vcsPRAsset_513966_110647_96fc3005-9167-403a-9f00-83c183df0faf_0.jpg"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For Immediate Release</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Contact: Valerie Burnette Edgar (410) 545-0303<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>THE BIRDS, THE BEES…AND THE BUTTERFLIES; </span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING POLLINATORS STATEWIDE</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><em><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Mowing Reduction and Meadow Creations are Key to Pollinators</span></b></em><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>(June 17, 2015)</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> – Sometimes the smallest things are our biggest helpers, which is the case with pollinators in Maryland. Honeybees and Monarch Butterflies are two particular pollinators that over the past several years have seen declines in their respective populations due to habitat destruction, parasites and insecticide use. Bees and butterflies help to pollinate more than 75 percent of crops and flowering plants. Just in time for National Pollinator Week (June 15-June 21), the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) continues to make conditions favorable for these beneficial insects to once again thrive by reducing roadside mowing, using beneficial insects for vegetation control and creating meadows of nectar and pollen producing native species.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>One of the greatest challenges to honeybee colonies is referred to as colony collapse disorder. The significant challenge to Monarch Butterflies is the destruction of habitat. The loss of valuable pollinators is having an effect on crops nationwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Through its mowing reduction and Statewide Native Plants Establishment Program, SHA has planted a variety of plant species specifically designed to attract Honeybees and Monarch Butterflies. Meadow restoration occurs along roadside medians, shoulders and near storm water management facilities. A few specific nectar-producing varieties include:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Butterfly Weed;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sunflowers;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Asters;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Coreopsis (Tickseed);<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Swamp Milkweed; and<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Black-eyes Susans.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><img width=700 height=393 id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://roads.maryland.gov/OCImages/Honeybee_Landscape.jpg"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <strong><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> (SHA Photo: Honeybee in a meadow located in a storm water management facility –Hanover, MD.)</span></i></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“Planting native meadow species is not only a great way to reduce mowing, it adds beauty and provides habitat for wildlife,” said Acting SHA Administrator Doug Simmons.” “The fact that the plants we sow attract valuable pollinators makes this even more rewarding.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Monarch Butterflies migrate annually from North America to the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. Biologists have noticed a slight increase in Monarch Butterfly populations over the past year. There is still a steep hill to climb as approximately 90 percent of the butterflies vanished over the past twenty years. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>SHA has developed a landscape design guide which provides direction for SHA landscaping plans. The design guide includes an array of information that explores how SHA landscape designs provide durable roadside naturalized landscaping while maintaining and enhancing valuable wildlife habitat. For more information on the SHA Landscape Design Guide, <a href="http://www.roads.maryland.gov/index.aspx?PageId=25">click here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'># # #</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Editor's note:</span></u></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Digital audio is attached for broadcast use.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.facebook.com/marylandstatehighwayadministration"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=32 height=32 id="_x0000_i1027" src="http://www.roads.maryland.gov/OCImages/32facebook.png"></span></a> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/MDSHA"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=32 height=32 id="_x0000_i1028" src="http://www.roads.maryland.gov/OCImages/32twitter.png"></span></a> <a href="http://pinterest.com/mdsha/"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1029" src="https://us.vocuspr.com/Publish/513966/vcsPRAsset_513966_109860_18158cb4-455b-493a-a0fd-76ad9a87a9e7_0.JPG"></span></a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/MDStateHighwayAdmin"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=32 height=32 id="_x0000_i1030" src="http://www.roads.maryland.gov/OCImages/32youtube.png"></span></a> <a href="http://www.md511.org/"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1031" src="https://us.vocuspr.com/Publish/513966/vcsPRAsset_513966_109907_160db51c-2d98-45e8-960f-1c36437ea804_0.jpg"></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;line-height:115%;color:green'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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