IHGC Pollinators is a committee within the Indian Hills Garden Club committed to preserving the health and benefits of our Native pollinators. Through many activities including our own personal pollinator gardens and Saint Joseph’s public pollinator gardens we aim to be a motivational force for resource and education to our community.

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Who are the Pollinators?

 

Mainly, pollinating is done by insects.  It can also be accomplished in a smaller measure by birds, bats, and even animals such as lemurs!  Alarmingly, as of 2016, over 40% of pollinators were faced with extinction and that number is continuing to rise.  Monarch butterflies are expected to be added to this list in 2019.  Declining pollinator populations across the globe desperately need our help if this trend is to be reversed.

 

Our pollinating insects consists of four main groups:

 

Bees and Wasps are responsible for the majority of pollination. Bees are best equipped to carry lots of pollen since they have stiff hairs or a “pollen basket” to collect the pollen. Wasps pollinate too but are not designed like bees with as many body parts to carry the pollen.

 

Flies frequently visit flowers and are also equipped to participate in the pollinating process. Although they are not designed to carry as much pollen as a bee, they still play an important role.  A natural ecosystem is greatly benefited by their pollinating. They do at times pollinate some foods that we consume.

 

Butterflies and Moths are the ones we see the most, bringing us delight as they brilliantly flutter through our gardens. They contribute to plant pollination accidentally as they use their long tongues to sip on nectar. As their body comes in contact with pollen it then is distributed to other plants.

Beetles pollinate particular groups of cup-petaled flowers such as lupine, magnolia and water lilies. Many of these types of plants give off odors that attract the beetles required to pollinate them.

 

               

How to Protect Pollinators 

We do not use any pesticides in these gardens.  Pesticides are substances used to destroy insects or other organisms harmful to plants or animals.  They include fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides.  Experts believe pollinators are permanently damaged and often killed by these various forms of poison.

 

We can help by creating safe habitats and growing plants pollinators love in our own gardens.  Even a small, backyard garden can make a big difference. 

 

You can reduce the risk to pollinators by following these simple guidelines:

- Use natural methods to control pests, such as spraying plants with a bit of dilute dish soap or Neem oil mixed with water, or by hand-picking pests  and disposing of them.

 - Choose not to use pesticides, or if you must, manage them very carefully. 

 - Be especially aware of the most toxic ones such as the family of neonicotinoids. 

 - Never apply pesticides to plants that are flowering.  The pollen and nectar would pass the pesticide residue directly on to the pollinators.

 - Always use the least toxic pesticide if no other solution is available. 

 

Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service for additional advice.

 

                Together we can make a difference!

                           

Learn More:

Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc. - Promoting the love of gardening across Michigan https://michigangardenclubs.org/

Michigan State University Pollinator Initiative - To address priority issues related to pollinators and pollination.   https://pollinators.msu.edu/

MSU Best Management Practices (BMP) - https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/best-management-practices#insecticides

Mid-American Monarch Conservation Strategy - Reversing the decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population.   MAFWA.org

Million Pollinator Garden Challenge - Nationwide call to action to preserve and create gardens and landscapes to help revive pollinators.  http://millionpollinatorgardens.org/

National Garden Club – Pollinator Gardens - Encouraging the Creation of Pollinator Friendly Habitat.  http://gardenclub.org/projects/pollinator-gardens.aspx

Pesticide Environmental Stewardship - Providing convenient access to information on proper pesticide handlin.g    https://pesticidestewardship.org/

PhycoTech, Inc. -  Raising the standard in aquatic analysis.  www.phycotech.com

Pollinator Partnership - To promote the health of pollinators through conservation, education, and research. www.pollinator.org

Xerces Society - Protecting the Life That Sustains Us.   www.xerces.org