#pollinatorweek

[heres-someart]

Pollinators Week

Prints are available on my RedBubble shop (link in pinned post)

[usgsbiml]

Background fun.  Note that in one picture in this series we put a background of grass in our mini-insect studio in front of the black velvet curtain.  What do you think ...pro? con? This is Anthidium illustre a snappy looking beast from the Rocky Mountains west.  I know that this specimen came from Clare Kremen's group and am pretty sure it came from their Central Valley Yolo County hedgerow study.  Photos by Anders Croft.    

[mypubliclands]

Blossoms transform the New Mexico desert

Just one surge of late spring rain over the New Mexico desert is all it takes to replace the drab shades of winter with the vibrancy of flower blooms. New Mexico ranks number four in plant diversity in the nation- and the spring and summer seasons exhibit the most dramatic transformation in full color.

The unique adaptations of high-elevation desert plants such as cacti, require rain to ‘wake up’ and burst into life. Prickly pear, tree cholla, devil’s cholla and claretcup brighten the landscape with their red, violet, yellow and orange hues. These flowers provide an oasis for pollinators and other insects. Later in the season, the fruits of these plants serve as food for rabbits, squirrels, birds, beetles and deer.

Other plants bloom at a slower pace. In a ponderosa pine forest, penstemon and three-nerved daisies flower from early spring to late summer. In piñon-juniper woodlands and desert sites, milkvetch, Indian paintbrush, fleabane, primrose and gilia ornament the landscape. Many of these blooms provide food for certain pollinators. Evening primrose is almost exclusively pollinated by moths, particularly the hummingbird moth.

Historically, New Mexican plants have been used for medicine, spiritual practices and for sustenance. The Pueblo of Jemez used Indian Paintbrush to prevent spoilage of chili seeds because the plant’s chemical properties act as a natural pest repellent. To this day, prickly pear pads, or “nopales”, are commonly eaten while their fruits can be made into tasty jam or lemonade. This versatile plant was also used a precursor to modern-day first aid medicine. The gel within the cactus pads soothe burns and open wounds, while the spines can serve as suture needles to close a wound. The Navajo considered globemallow the “Life Medicine” as it was used for colds, headaches and for stimulating appetite.

Spring and summer open up many opportunities to truly enjoy nature and its history. Visiting public lands allows people to connect with their environment, so ignite your inner botanist and get outside!

Story and photos by Annie Montes, Associate Ecologist, and Alec Bryan, Rangeland Management Specialist.

[hannah-rosengren]

Happy National Pollinator Week!! Here are two posters of mine illustrating ways to help bees & monarchs. When planting for pollinators, remember to buy organic, non-treated seeds and be aware of what plants are invasive to your area. 

You can also visit pollinator.org/pollinatorweek to find a Pollinator Week event near you!

[bee-safari-blog]

Head scratching mining bee (Andrena spp.) on Portuguese cherry laurel (Prunus lusitanica). The cherry laurel has extraordinary amounts of pollen which require the bees to groom frequently or face being encased in it, hence the arm brushing the pollen off the head and antennae. Much of the pollen brushed off in this process ends up being manipulated onto rear legs where you can see quite a load of it massing for transport back to the nest. #bees #pollinatorweek #pollinators #macro_perfection #macro_mood #macro_freaks #macroclique #photooftheday #insects #bugs #andrena #prunuslusitanica #cherrylaurel #pollen #insects_macro #insectsofinstagram #insects_of_our_world #pocket_insects #kings_insects

[lewisginter]

View this post on Instagram

Bees! The observation hive is now open. Find it behind the Kroger Community Kitchen Garden. #bees #pollinatorweek #pollinators #rva (at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden)

[modfarm]

An Argument: Hummingbirds Are the Best Pollinators

Several ways in which these super sick birds are great.

[zookeeperrick]

Fun #AnimalFact for #PollinatorWeek: Mammals are pollinators too! We often think of bees and butterflies when it comes to pollinators, and they are super important pollinators but... There are other pollinators too, like the kinkajou! A relative of the raccoon, these mammals enjoy drinking nectar from flowers. And when they do that, they get a lot of pollen on their face. As they go from flower to flower to drink the nectar they also pollinate the flowers. Can you think of other mammals that are pollinators too?#PollinatorWeek2017