Notes for Pollinator Protection
Monday, April 6, 2020 at 8:03AMBy Representative Phyllis Kahn, Great River Coalition Board Member
As someone who has always participated in the Earth Day Bee Run/Walk and River Cleanup, which was supposed to occur on April 18th at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis, I will miss it as it joins the list of cancellations.
Following Rick Margl’s excellent article, “Notes on Recent Pollinator Research“, I would like to expand on what we can do as individuals.
Obviously support Rep. Wagenius bill. HF1255, allowing cities to ban the use of pesticides lethal to pollinators. Of course urge your legislators to actively support it. As an individual make sure you avoid their use.
On a local political level, we should oppose or try to eliminate any ordinance that requires groomed lawns. Yards devoted to pollinator plants are extremely attractive and easy to take care of once established. Get rid of aversions to plants like dandelions or creeping Charlie. They are among the best early sources for bee populations, If you really can’t stand them don’t cut them out or down until the yellow Dandelion flowers are gone but before the seeds form.
Also Google “”pollinator garden” for ideas and seed sources. Farmers markets, which we hope will stay open, are good sources of knowledgable suppliers,
Even iff environmental cleanup is more fun in a big group and in a specific place like Boom Island, don’t hesitate to do it by yourself or with a small group off friends, keeping appropriate distance and doing perfect hand washing.
And if you are lucky enough to have a bee colony nearby, welcome it without any fear. Unbothered they will leave humans alone.
We can all celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Check out the Great River Coalition website for more information, (www.greatrivercoalition.com). Remember that GRC is a 501 C3 organization, perfect for charitable donations, working to preserve the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.
A possibly useful contact is DreamProducts.com at 1-800-530-2689. They have pre-seeded mats that become Monarch butterfly, songbird flowers, sunflowers and others.
