GARDEN CLUB SPEAKER STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATORS
Betty Robison, member of the Town and Country Garden
Club, sits at her laptop as she presents a program on the importance of
pollinators in the food chain as one of three foods eaten requires pollination.
She named and discussed the more common pollinators --
bees, birds, bats, butterflies, beetles -- stressing the importance of
establishing a pollinator - friendly
habitat in one's landscape whether it be containers, patios, yards, or gardens.
Pollinators are four times more attracted to native
plants than non-native plants. These
plants should be of different sizes, shapes, heights, and colors.
Butterflies are attracted to orange, red, and yellow
colors while bees prefer blue and yellow.
Since researchers have isolated 121 different pesticides
in bee pollen, it is important to use non-toxic pesticide on plants. A common one is using one teaspoon of Dawn
dish washing liquid in one quart of water in a spray bottle and spraying outdoor
and indoor plants. This is a more
natural option for spraying pests; such as flea beetles, Japanese beetles,
sawflies, tent worms, slugs and aphids.
Robison is the owner of Robison Acres Plant Sanctuary in
Scenery Hill and has been a member of
the Washington County Master Gardeners for 16 years.
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