Pollination!
Beth Ann Sennett Delivers a Wealth of Information
One of our big projects in the District is the promotion of Pollinator Gardens. In fact, our Club will be planting one such garden this Spring in association with Levo International of Hartford.
BethAnn Sennett, of the West Hartford Garden Club, gave us a great overview of pollinators and plants that can attract them. Quite a few attendees stayed after the meeting and garnered even more information from her.
Some takeaways:
- Pollinators are important, and they are key to our survival on this earth!
- Nature is messy - a bug is bird food. Birds pollinate, bugs pollinate
- Our nicely groomed lawns and yards have disturbed many natural cycles. Many of our decorative plants are non-native species. 80:20 is a good ratio of native vs. non-native species
- Native species are best, even if they aren't the showiest. In fact, holes in the leaves of your plants can be an indicator of a healthy ecosystem.
- Oak, willow, and black cherry trees - Goldenrod, astors and Joepye weed are great native species that support a lot of insect, bird and wildlife.
- 14% of our plants support 95% of our bugs.
- Seeds are available at the West Hartford Public Library
This was a wonderful presentation. And thanks go out, as always, to Mary Silverberg, who creates our program schedule.