local dirt The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
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his North American movement aims to bring awareness to the important role that horticulture in the health of our pollinator
populations. By planting more forage habitat for pollinators we can all take an active role to BEE better gardeners. Help our environment, join the movement by planting one of the million pollinator sites around the world. Bee populations in Canada, and the
world, are in decline. This is due in part to loss of habitat and food sources, disease, pests, viruses and pesticide use. There are over 700 native species of bees in Canada and they are responsible for approximately 70 per cent of the food we eat through pollination! We can help. By providing bees and
other pollinators with a place to feed in our own backyard we can assist them in their survival. This year why not grow
plants that bees love? Most bee friendly plants please everyone and include blue- berries, raspberries, sunflowers, asters, roses, lupines, apple trees, yarrow, milkweed, primula, Joe Pye and chives among many others. Bees are attracted to certain colours – blue, purple, violet, white and yellow – so try to add more plants in these hues – like borage,
catmint and rudbeckia. By becoming more conscious of the ramifications of our choices in insect and weed control, and including pollinator houses in our gardens we can protect our pollinators. This year plant something to support
pollinators in your garden and register your garden at millionpollinatorgardens. org. BEEcome one of the million!
? Test your garden knowledge Spring garden quiz
Test your knowledge by answering true or false to the follow- ing questions.
1. Robins have already paired up when they arrive here in the spring.
2. Canada geese arrive in families.
3. The male Canada goose flies around looking for food while the female sits on the eggs in the nest.
4. Gold finches aren’t gold in the winter. 5. The spring equinox is the longest day of the year. 6. The equinox is a moment, not a day.
7. You can stand a raw egg on its end on the day of the spring equinox.
The robin is a traditional first sign of spring.
localgardener.net
8. Winter is shorter than summer. 9. Crocuses are the first thing to bloom in spring. 10. Snow will kill a crocus bloom. Find answers on page 39.
Early Spring 2016 • 5
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