Pollinator Week

National Pollinator Week!

Pollinator’s are an essential part of the ecosystem and economy. This week is dedicated to the celebration of pollinators and spreading the word about what we can do to help them! Here at Hook’s we are celebrating pollinator week with lots of pollinator friendly plants!

Why are pollinators so important?

Pollinators are an essential part of reproduction for most flowering plants. Pollinators carry pollen from the anther (male part of a flower) to the stigma (the female part of a flower). This process is necessary for the plant to develop fruits, vegetables and create seeds for the next generation of plants! There are a variety of creatures that play a role in pollination including butterflies, bees, birds, bats, beetles, moths, small mammals, flies and wasps. As a pivotal part of flowering plant reproduction, pollinators are essential for the production of many food, oils, fibers and raw materials as well as erosion prevention and carbon sequestering.

Pollinator populations worldwide are on the decline due to habitat loss, misuse of chemicals, pollution, disease and shifting climatic patterns. These guys need our help! Here are a couple of ideas of how you can help out the pollinators.

How to Help Pollinators Out:

Make space for pollinators on your land by planting a pollinator garden. Keep in mind when choosing plants that local pollinators prefer native plants!
Spread the word about the plight of the pollinators the how others can help!
Support local farmers and beekeepers
Build a beneficial insect house. Click the following link for more information on how to build and maintain your own bee condo: https://www.foxleas.com/make-a-bee-hotel.asp.
Limit harmful chemical use by opting for organic options or develop an integrated pest management (IPM) program rather than going straight to conventional chemical methods. On top of killing targeted pests, these chemicals can be harmful to pets, children and beneficial insects. Check out the references section for links to websites with more information on how to develop an IPM and how to transition from traditional farming to organic farming.