As you may have noticed over the summer,  CC's  pollinator population  has declined.  Actually, it has been a terrible year for pollinators worldwide--they keep getting wiped out. According to researchers,  these tiny creatures face a multitude of threats.  These include loss of feeding and nesting habitats, pollution, disease, climate change, and insecticides. Thanks to CC's Beautification Committee, and some eco-friendly yards, our pollinators have stress-free feeding zones.

Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies are among the pollinators at CC and surrounding areas. These tireless workers are drawn to colorful  plants and flowers that are nectar and pollen rich. Cone-flowers,  lavender, milkweed, bee balm, black-eyed susans, and similar flora help pollinators thrive and survive. Native and organic plants are best because many nurseries and big box stores spray their plants with insecticides to make them more marketable. Insecticides can be toxic to pollinators.  

It's ironic that humans are cutting off the hands (or in this case, the wings), that feed them. According to the USDA, pollinators help produce one out of every three bites of food that humans eat.  Apples, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, melons, peaches, potatoes, vanilla, almonds, coffee, chocolate, nuts, seeds, and more are all part of the bounty that exits because of pollination.  Hopefully, next summer  CC will see an increase in the number of it's tiny residents. 

Follow this link for more info on how to help pollinators thrive.