Sustainability Spotlight - August 2023 - Help the Pollinators Prosper
Did you know that as a caterpillar, the monarch butterfly can only eat milkweed plants? As monarchs make the long flight north from their winter home in Mexico or California, they stop to lay eggs on milkweed. The new caterpillar eats the milkweed’s leaves, spins a cocoon and the monarch butterfly that emerges continues the journey to Canada. Monarch populations have been decimated recently due to degradation and loss of habitat. However, it’s easy to help the species survive by planting milkweed in your garden! There are several types of milkweed that thrive in a variety of conditions such as showy, common, swamp, and butterfly weed. Sometimes it might take a year or so before monarchs find the milkweed, but in the meantime, plenty of other pollinators will benefit.
Colorado is home to many native pollinators. There are over 900 species of native bees plus the moths, birds, and even flies that pollinate our gardens. In fact, the honey bee is non-native and was brought over by European settlers. Colorado’s native pollinators rely on native plants to sustain them. Some native plants, like milkweed, are keystone species vital to more than just monarchs, they are essential to a healthy ecosystem.
Many people are planting keystone plants as they participate in the HOMEGROWN NATIONAL PARK® initiative. This grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks was cofounded by ecologist Doug Tallamy. Their webpage hosts a selection of his videos that discuss the importance of keystone plants and how you can join the movement by including native plants in your garden. Plants are the foundation of the food chain and fostering an environment where both plants and pollinators thrive will enhance the biodiversity of the whole ecosystem. There are many organizations along the front range to help you with native plant selection including The Colorado Native Plant Society and Wild Ones Front Range Chapter. These organizations hold plant swaps in early summer and seed swaps in the fall, everyone is welcome, with or without plants/seeds. Plus they have tours and educational materials!
Don’t have the land to grow your own flowers and vegetables or want to join a gardening community? Wheat Ridge’s Happiness Community Gardens on Ammons St between 41st and 44th Avenue is the place to get your hands dirty! Stop by this blooming community garden full of flowers and vegetables at any time. Check out the event calendar to see how to join the community garden in 2024.
