Save the Butterflies!

Polllinators are key to the production of all fruits and vegetables. To encourage pollinators in our food bank garden, we have set up a little exhibit with flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, an other insects. Planted by the shed, the garden includes cosmos, butterfly bushes, day lilies, lantana, portulaca and herbs such as basil. The flowers of these plants provide much need protein from their nectar. At the same time the butterflies and bees transfer pollen from one flower to the other and into the fields where the flowers on our vegetables and fruits have to be pollinated.

Without pollinators we would have no food supply. Pollinators are diminishing due to the overuse of pesticides and to increasing urbanization and development.

You can help encourage the pollinators by developing gardens wherever you can, using native plants and decreasing the use of pesticides. Try making a pollinator garden at your school, church, public gardens.

For more information and an informative video, go to www.pollinators.org

Oh...look for the flowers planted in the fields as well. Sunflowers and cosmos among others will appear here and there. Bring on the butterflies!