What's the buzz?

National Pollinator Week is June 15-21. Due to declining bee populations, this special week was established in 2007 to enlighten us about the ecosystem services provided by butterflies, bees, birds, bats, beetles, and other pollinating animals. Wildlife habitat, healthy watersheds and our food are a direct result of pollinators. Of course, we should celebrate year-round these flower-flitting critters without which we would not have raspberries, chocolate, coffee, melons, almonds, tequila and many other tasty treats.

We can help ensure the future of native pollinators by planting areas of native plants, providing nesting sites and limiting the use of pesticides.

Different pollinators like different plant characteristics. For example, bees like clumps of white, yellow and blue flowers with a flat landing shape, while butterflies prefer red and purple flowers with a deep tubular shape, and hummingbirds go for red and pink tubular flowers with a sweet scent.

The beautiful Monarch butterflies are now being banded and tracked because of an estimated 90 percent drop in the population in recent years.

Milkweed is the ONLY plant the Monarch caterpillar eats, so if you want some colorful orange and black Monarchs in your garden, plant some milkweed.

Native bees, such as the spring mason bee and the summer leafcutter bee, live in small holes in trees and hollow branches. These non-stinging bees are interesting and safe to watch. A native bee nesting habitat can be built from instructions found on the internet or purchased from garden centers.

Pollinator Week is being celebrated in Wyoming with a Butterfly Count at Red Canyon Ranch near Lander; the Wyoming BioBlitz at the Heart Mountain Ranch near Cody; and week-long pollinator events in Laramie.

Everyone is invited to the Red Dirt Master Gardener meetings at noon the second Tuesday of every month.

Please call 307-864-3421 for meeting location and other information about the Master Gardener organization for a beautiful and healthy community.