Today’s Enviro Minute is about promoting biodiversity and actions we can take to assist our pollinators.

Populations of bees, butterflies and other pollinators are declining, in some cases steeply, around the world. With fewer pollinators, we will have less fruits and vegetables to harvest. We will also lose songbirds and other wildlife that depend on pollinators as their food source. The decline of pollinators is because of habitat loss, agriculture, urban development, the use of pesticides and herbicides, and climate change.

We can help pollinators by increasing the availability of early flowers in the springtime, like dandelions and white clover in lawns and by delaying mowing our lawns in the spring.

In May, many bees are coming out of hibernation and need flowers to feed themselves and their babies. The main purpose of No Mow May is to encourage people to let spring flowers in their lawns bloom before mowing. Flowers you commonly see blooming in lawns in May include dandelions, white clover, and creeping charlie. While many people view these flowers as weeds, some pollinators view them as food. Ideally, you can add to the mix and provide food for more pollinators by adding native plants. Early spring blooming native plants like violets and pussy toes can be a part of your bee lawn. Planting a wide variety of native spring blooming flowers, trees, and shrubs, like pussy willows, serviceberries, and bluebells, supports bee diversity.

Although we get anxious to clean up our yards, hibernating pollinators often need a bit more time under the leaves before they can safely emerge. Leaves left on the ground provide important insulation for bees hibernating underground and for moths and butterflies that overwinter in the leaves. Leaving your leaves where they are until temperatures are above 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees F) for 5 consecutive days will give most of those hibernating pollinators the

protection that they need. Bees that nest in stems may not emerge until mid-June or later. It is best for the bees to leave the stems where they are. New growth will soon cover them, any bees nesting in the stems will emerge, and the old stems will decompose.

A manicured lawn is a desert for pollinators and most wildlife. A small pile of twigs makes a great home for pollinators. All bees need a source of water with a perch. Offering a muddy spot with stones helps them out!

Delay mowing, and then mow at the highest setting. This allows low lying flowers to continue to grow and decreases re-flower time for those that are mown. It is also good for the health of your grass, which will need less watering when it is long.

Last spring I had the pleasure of watching a robin pull the uncut dead stems from my backyard hostas plants and weave them into a nest for her babies in our white spruce tree. Rethinking your landscaping maintenance can bring benefits to our backyard birds, small animals, and insects, and create joy for ourselves and others.

Creating a pollinator garden in your yard is another wonderful thing you can do to promote biodiversity.