National Pollinators Week Promotes Protection

The heart of pollen season may be past us but Upper Cumberland gardeners have not forgotten about the role pollinators play.

Master Gardener Lisa Luck said it is crucial to protect pollinators during this, National Pollinators Week.

“So the thing that we can do to help our pollinators thrive in our community is to plant more flowers,” Luck said. “The more flowers they have the more nectar there is for them to to have and plenty to eat.”

The average person thinks of bees when it comes to pollinators. Luck said other species of pollinators are butterflies, bats, and even lemurs.

According to the USDA, three-fourths of the world’s plants need a pollinator. Luck said here in the Upper Cumberland the pesticides that are used to kill weeds and pests are very harmful to pollinators.

“Dandelions are the best friend of pollinators,” Luck said. “They count on the dandelions to bloom to give them energy to make it through until some of the other flowers bloom.”

Luck said pollinators and plants have evolved over the years.

“Some of the pollinators evolve along with the plant,” Luck said. “And so there are some plants that exist that can only be pollinated by a certain insect or animal.”

Luck said that weeds are partners of pollinators and that she cultivates weeds in her garden specifically for that reason.

“A lot of people just declare war on these poor plants that really are necessary for the beauty we have in the community.”