[Pollinator] In the garden,pollinators rule

[Peter Bernhardt]

On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 12:37 PM, <Ladadams at aol.com> wrote:

>  *Auburn Citizen, Auburn NY* In the garden, pollinators rule
>
> By Terri Rafferty / Special to The Citizen
>
> Saturday, March 21, 2009 11:44 PM EDT
>  STERLING - Nature lovers and inspired gardeners learned everything there
> is to know about pollination and how to start and maintain a pollinated
> garden at the Sterling Nature Center Saturday.
>  Native Pollinators, the first event of the spring and summer season, was
> run by nature center director Jim D'Angelo.
>
> Shirley Ryan, of Auburn, and Bernie Aldrich, of Montezuma, came out to see
> what they might learn.
>
> “I love nature. I haven't been to the nature center before but it
> encompasses my interests,” Ryan said.
>
> In his presentation, D'Angelo spoke of ways to keep a more healthier
> natural garden by attracting native pollinators. D'Angelo gave an overview
> of the native pollinators in the local area and gave tips on how to attract
> these beneficial insects to your yard.
>
> The basic premise of pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male to
> the female plant and is required for fruit and seeds to produce in flowering
> plants.
>
> “Eighty percent of all crops require an animal pollinator,” D'Angelo said.
> “Pollinators produce larger more favorable fruit and higher crop yields.”
>
> Without pollination tomatoes, squash, watermelon, apples, blueberries,
> cucumbers and even chocolate wouldn't be accessible for eating, D'Angelo
> said.
>
> “People are disconnected from where there food comes from. People are so
> used to going to a grocery store and picking up what they need. They don't
> really know much about their food. They can buy strawberries year round and
> around here they only grow naturally in the spring,” D'Angelo said.
>
> Bees are the most important pollinators. There are 4,000 different species
> of bees in North America and 47 different species of bumblebees.
>
> Bees use the pollen gained from plants and flowers for nutrients and food.
> Usually they feed this to their brood which will eventually hatch into an
> adult bee. Bees also use the nectar to keep up their energy.
>
> “If you want pollination in your yard use bees,” D'Angelo said. “Native
> bees are the best to use because they fly only about 200 yards for food so
> they will pollinate your garden more.”
>
> Different animal pollinators include bats, lemurs, slugs, flies, beetles,
> lizards, bush babies and hummingbirds. Wind is a natural pollinator and
> helps specifically with the production of corn.
>
> “Cross-pollination occurs when pollen from one plant lands on the silks of
> another plant. Gaps in corn occur when not every single kernel of corn is
> pollinated,” D'Angelo said.
>
> In this area, the ruby-throated hummingbird is a significant pollinator
> attracted to red, orange and yellow flowers as well as lilac bushes.
>
> D'Angelo recommends using plants and flowers that are native to New York
> state and naturally attract pollinators such as the 12 varieties of
> milkweed, 26 varieties of goldenrod and 212 varieties of aster are available
> locally.
>
> The landscape of a garden is another important factor because to get the
> most benefit of natural pollinators the entire garden should be used for
> pollinating purposes.
>
> A technique called clumping is crucial. Plant same color flowers in a large
> cluster about 4 feet apart, which helps insects to better pollinate since
> they naturally see colors in clumps.
>
> D'Angelo also stressed the importance of diversity in a garden. “You should
> have things in bloom throughout the season since many bee and butterfly
> species fly at different times of the year,” he said.
>
> D'Angelo also recommended avoiding the use of pesticides but gave tips on
> how to best use them.
>
> Use pesticides when plants are not in bloom, when pollinators are not
> active but when the pest you are targeting is active and use a pesticide
> that is specific to that particular pest.
>
> “All of our actions big or small can be detrimental to nature,” D'Angelo
> said.
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> Laurie Davies Adams
> Executive Director
> *Pollinator Partnership *
> 423 Washington Street, 5th floor
> San Francisco, CA 94111
> 415-362-1137
> LDA at pollinator.org
>
> *www.pollinator.org*
> www.nappc.org
>
> *National Pollinator Week is June 22-28, 2009.
> Beecome involved at www.pollinator.org*
>
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