Pollinator Week happens every year, and in 2024 it is June 17 through June 24. Maine is a great place to celebrate pollinators and learn the vital role pollinators play in the ecosystem, pollinating many plants that produce fruits, vegetables and nuts. Pollinator Week aims to raise awareness and promote actions to protect and support these essential species.
It’s the whole reason that many people you know did not mow their lawns last month. No Mow May is designed to give bees, butterflies, birds and bats time to gather pollen.
Why we need pollinators
According to a National Institute of Food and Agriculture report, pollinators play a crucial role in reproducing over 75% of flowering plants and nearly 35% of global food crops. They help produce food and maintain the health of ecosystems.
Without pollinators, the world’s food supply and biodiversity would suffer greatly. Pollinator Week reminds us of the urgent need to protect these invaluable creatures and their habitats. So here are some ways you can learn about pollinators, visit places the pollinators frequent and find ways to help them in your own garden at home.
Visit a local butterfly garden
Take a trip to a nearby butterfly garden. These gardens provide a habitat for various butterfly species and offer a close-up view of these beautiful pollinators. I know of two butterfly gardens open to the public. Both are a bit of a drive from Southern Maine.
Charlotte Rhoades Park and Butterfly Garden
One is on Mount Desert Island, where Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor are located. It’s called the Charlotte Rhoades Park and Butterfly Garden. You’ll find it in Southwest Harbor. Its mission is simple: to actively promote conservation and organic gardening education to children and adults alike, and to serve as a haven for Monarch butterflies to breed and sustain their fall migration.
It is open to the public daily mid-May to mid-October from dawn to dusk. The garden asks for a $5 suggested donation per family. So, an affordable excursion for sure.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
The other butterfly garden is in Boothbay Harbor, in the Midcoast. It is a part of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
The Native Butterfly and Moth House at the gardens features shade screening and a planting scheme dedicated to supporting the entire life cycle of moths and butterflies native to Maine and New England — from caterpillar to moth or butterfly. Here, you can observe every stage of the pollinators’ growth first-hand.
Admission varies by visitors’ ages. Also, if you buy tickets online ahead of time, they’re $2 cheaper. Right now, these are the prices you can expect to pay to visit — assuming you buy tickets online before you arrive. If you pay day of when you arrive, the price will be $2 more than what’s listed below:
- Adults: $24
- Seniors (65+) & Veterans: $20
- Student (18+ with Student ID): $15
- Children (3-17): $10, Children under 3: Free
- Family (2 adults, 2 children): $58
Start a pollinator garden
Plant a garden that attracts and supports pollinators. Whether you plant in your backyard or a community garden, choose native flowers, shrubs and trees that bloom at different times of the year.
This selection provides a continuous food source for pollinators. According to the University of Maine Extension, here are four tips for planting a pollinator garden that’s specific to Maine:
- Buy locally grown, pesticide-free native and non-invasive plants.
- Provide at least three to five species of flowers in each season, that display a variety of size, color, height and flower shape (tubular, flat, etc.).
- Plant in clumps, which attract more pollinators than single plants.
- Plant tubular-flowered plants in the Mint Family (oregano, catmint, sage, lavender, etc) and flat-flowered plants in the Aster Family (sunflower and other “daisies”) offer good resources to pollinators.
This plant-a-pollinator garden guide even suggests specific plants and flowers by season. The suggestions range from Crocus in spring to Coneflower — aka echinacea — in midsummer to goldenrod in later summer.
When planting your pollinator garden, use organic gardening practices to avoid harming pollinators with pesticides. Provide a water source such as a shallow dish with stones from which pollinators can drink. And remember to include plants like milkweed for butterflies and sunflowers for bees.
Buying Pollinator-friendly plants and seeds
The University of Maine and the University of New Hampshire together have a guide to pollinator-friendly gardening centers and other places to get plants and seeds in both states. If possible, you should try to buy your plants from these places. Many are nonprofits so you’re supporting a good cause, too. Other sources are seed gardens in Maine public libraries’ library of things.
In Southern Maine, places on the list include:
- Brownfield Public Library
- Children’s Garden at Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth
- Curtis Memorial Library Children’s Garden, Brunswick
- New Gloucester Fairgrounds
- New Gloucester Public Library
- Pollinate New England Garden at Wells Reserve at Laudholm, Wells
- Tom Settlemire Community Garden- Brunswick
- UMaine Gardens at Tidewater Farm, Falmouth
Learn about bees
Bees are among the most important pollinators. Learning about them can be both fun and educational. When you visit an apiary, you might get access to fun pollinator printable activity sheets to complete as you learn about bees.
The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Harbor also has an apiary. That’s where bees live, among 16 hives.
Build a birdhouse
Birds are also important pollinators. Building a birdhouse can provide a safe place to nest while encouraging them to visit your garden.
Use simple birdhouse kits, create your design or make bird feeders from recyclables. This hands-on activity is suitable for people of all ages. It is a clever way to upcycle materials that may otherwise end up in landfills.
When complete, place the birdhouse in your garden’s quiet, shaded area. Remember to keep the birdhouse clean and monitor it for any signs of pests or damage.
Participate in a citizen science project
Celebrate Pollinator Week on a community level and participate in citizen science projects that track and monitor pollinator populations. These projects provide valuable data that help scientists understand and protect pollinators.
Join programs like the Great Sunflower Project or Monarch Watch. Then, record your observations and submit them to the project’s database. Encourage friends and neighbors to participate as well.
Pollinator Week offers families an excellent opportunity to learn about and support pollinators through engaging activities. By participating in these fun and educational events, you can help ensure the survival of these crucial creatures and contribute to a healthier environment. Finally, even when the week is over, there is still plenty you can do throughout the spring, summer and fall to help pollinators going forward.
Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.