Celebrating Pollinator Week
This year, as we celebrate the 15 th anniversary of Pollinator Week, we’re encouraged by the fact that this relatively new event has now garnered international recognition, as people around the world take advantage of the opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and what we can do to protect them. In our industry, we see trends come and go, and it’s our job to adapt our production and methods to respond to consumers’ ever- changing tastes. This can be challenging, especially if consumer trends aren’t in line with our own tastes or values. But, as we have seen over the past few years, the public’s embrace of sustainable gardening practices like converting lawns into garden space and planting with pollinators in mind only seems to be gaining traction. This may be because these are not simply fleeting trends, but an indication of a shift in culture, one that is driven not by aesthetic tastes, but by a morally motivated and increasingly educated public.
When it comes to the topic of declining bee and pollinator populations, I think we sometimes have a tendency to oversimply what is a complex problem by fixating on only one or two of the root causes, like overuse of insecticides, without seeing the whole picture. There is no question that neonicotinoids have had a devastating impact on bee populations, and studies have shown that they can persist for up to a year in the nectar and pollen of treated trees and shrubs. But another major threat to honeybee populations that isn’t nearly as much a part of the public discourse is the Varroa mite. This parasite is the most serious pest of honeybees worldwide. It reproduces quickly, spreads viruses between colonies, and is very difficult to control.
Recent studies have also shown that the process of feeding bee colonies high fructose corn syrup instead of honey can have a detrimental effect on bee health by making the colony more susceptible to pesticides. And loss of habitat and the intensification of agricultural crops are other major contributors to the collapse of our honeybee populations. In order to understand how we can help to rebuild bee populations, we need to carefully consider all of these factors, how they relate to each other, and the combined effects they have on pollinator health.
Fortunately, the public’s growing interest in pollinator plants is making an impact when it comes to rebuilding habitat for bees and other pollinators. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this movement has been so successful; our industry has done a great job of marketing when it comes to promoting plants that attract pollinators. Growers like Walters Gardens have been actively involved in these efforts by distributing specially branded pollinator pots and working with garden centers to create pollinator plant displays that both attract and inform customers. And social media has been a powerful tool for us when it comes to sharing video content and information because it allows us to distribute our message in a fun but educational way.
As green industry professionals, our role is not easy. We’re faced with managing a growing number of serious and often invasive pests that are difficult to control, like spotted lanternfly, bronze birch borer, and hemlock woolly adelgid, just to name a few. But we must continue to develop strategies that allow us to balance our need to control harmful pests while also safeguarding pollinator populations as best we can. It’s also our responsibility to educate our customers and do our part to ensure that we are sharing accurate information at a time when false information can spread so quickly. Although we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to reversing the harmful effects that years of habitat loss and the indiscriminate use of harmful chemicals have had on pollinator populations, I think we’re on the right track, and it’s inspiring to work with an engaged customer base towards a common goal.
