2 MILLION BLOSSOMS
s editor of a bee magazine, I am constantly asked - swer. “Plant a Flower, Feed a Bee.” Easy, right? But rarely in life is something easy. Planting for pollinators is becoming a passion for a lot of people, many with good intentions, but not a lot of experience. To succeed means knowing what to plant, how and where to plant, and then how to care for them, not just for that mo- ment of inspiration, but for years. Instant gardens rarely fare well.
A If you live in an apartment building with a balcony and
part of Corporate America who wants to look good and be able to say we are doing our part, there are all sorts of incen- tives. It’s getting easier to convince the higher ups to hire a professional landscaper, convert two or three acres of their corporate, fertilized, chemically weeded lawn, and then man- have the equipment and know-how to spray, plow, harrow, till and plant, either broadcast or in nice, neat rows, creating a pollinator garden that is to die for. Their corporate image depends on good impressions, so they come back to manage it, and it blooms beautifully in tip-top shape. You did good, Corporate America: the company looks good, the landscaper made money, and those insects who get to wine and dine do a bit better too. All things considered, a good. Of course, there are a multitude of opportunities to
make this happen at all levels of government. City, county that setting aside some of their excess land in the name of feeding pollinators is not only good for business and their image, but when done right, it actually enhances the budget, cutting down on weekly mowing. That it helps those insects out there is a bonus. It’s a win/win/win for everybody and everything. Another good. All of these have one thing in common. The people in
charge that are doing the planning, donating and hiring have the money and staff. Corporate landowners, government agencies at all levels - they make the rules - so whatever they do is OK with those in charge, because they are in charge.
The Bad The Good
But what about all those private spaces that are popping up? A simple foundation planting in the front of the house - ble garden out back. Even a few pots on the deck or porch look good. None of these additions change the general vibe of the property, what the neighbors might think, and even what the local zoning regs have to say. But (and you knew there would be a but), what happens when you want to put in a large pollinator garden in a neighborhood that takes a dim view of a somewhat unmanaged looking plot of ground, right there, where everybody can see it? Heavens!! The neighbors. That’s what this is about. Both the neigh- bors right next door, those across the street, those who are part of your neighborhood homeowners association, those who may have to deal with invasive plants or noxious weeds when a poorly planned garden gets out of control, and those who are in charge. Basically, the folks who have to deal with the bad and ugly in life—the good intentions gone wrong. Growers of unkempt pollinator gardens that resemble
weed infested pasture get noticed. Usually from two very dif- ferent perspectives. They won’t come up and complain to your face. Oh no, a complaint will be lodged with the appro- priate authorities. A complaint that results in someone from somewhere knocking on the door, or a strongly worded in- fraction letter, telling the grower that this has to be neatened up. Deadlines are given, further inspections are planned and if all else fails, a summons is issued, just like when you don’t shovel your sidewalk after a snow storm. Don’t laugh. I’ve seen it happen. Unkempt lawns are an
eyesore, a danger to the local population of pets and small children. They can harbor all manner of obnoxious garden and yard pests, animals that can harm anybody who ventures near, and are a continuing source of weed seeds, invasive
30
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
