As the warmer weather beckons, thoughts turn to gardening, whether for food, beauty or both.
On Thursday, April 10, Pollinator Steward Marti Tillinger, of Allegany, will offer gardeners suggestions for native plants that encourage pollination by bees, moths and multiple other pollinators.
A native of the Finger Lakes, Tillinger has been an avid pollinator gardener for 13 years and has planted native plants and quality seed mixes to successfully attract vital pollinators. Her certifications include Pollinator Steward and Bee Friendly Garden, both through Pollinator Partnership, and Monarch Watch, Wildlife Federation and American Garden Club Pollinator Garden.
“One-third of every bite of food we eat is pollinated by pollinators,” Tillinger said. “Bees are the most important pollinator, next are moths, followed by frogs, butterflies, hummingbirds and bats, ladybugs and some beetles.”
There are 4,000 types of bees in the United States, she said, and most of them don’t sting.
“Only female bees can sting, and the honeybees are more interested in plants than people,” Tillinger noted. “Eighty percent of our bees come from the ground, so it is important to set aside some bare areas for them to nest.”
Tillinger’s presentation will include handouts on native plants and on pollinators, along with practical information for those looking to create pollinator gardens this spring.
“I hope participants will come away with a greater appreciation of our precious and vital pollinators and the need to protect them,” she said. “We rely on them to pollinate many of the foods we enjoy, as well as some medicines and textile products.”
Sponsored by Enchanted Mountains Village (EMVi), the presentation is scheduled for 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the Margaret Carney classroom, in the Olean Business Development Building, 301 N. Union St., Olean. The classroom is on the third floor, and accessible via stairs or elevator.
The presentation is free and open to the public. Additional information is available by contacting EMVi at (585) 379-0062.
EMVi is part of a nation-wide movement being embraced by people who want to age successfully and vibrantly in their own homes. Villages are all about fostering strong connections among its members and to community resources and social activities.
