Much of my gardening has always centered on butterflies, particularly Monarchs. Also, my sister has bee hives, so I have been aware of the challenges beekeepers face. So, it was natural for me to pick up on the global concern re the dramatic drop in all pollinator numbers. My garden is already a diverse mixture of native plants that are host plants for various butterflies and nectar sources for any insects. But, it seems like the world needs more than just my little plot. So, I've kept my eyes open for opportunities.

Fortunately, Consumers Power just came through and clear-cut all the woody vegetation that had grown up under some nearby power lines. I called them, and they said they don't care what anyone plants underneath, as long as it isn't trees or vines that will interfere with the power grid. So, I'm going to clean out my box of native plant seeds and sprinkle them over the open area today. Now is the perfect time to plant native seeds that might require a period of weeks or months of cold/moist stratification in order to germinate.

Also, I convinced my husband that we have too much mowing to do and we should convert more of our lawn to garden beds. Some of these will just be groupings of small, native shrubs that provide nectar in spring when they bloom, and berries for birds later on. These also provide nesting sites and you can leave the fallen leaves as mulch, which provide cover for overwintering pupae or hibernating adult insects. Less work for us, and better diversity for the web of nature. We have an area set aside for our dogs, so they don't dig holes everywhere. We actually blow extra leaves into their run so it doesn't get muddy and provides another area for hibernating insects.

I wonder what others do in their yards to encourage insect life. I also like the idea of citizen gardeners sharing ideas and seeds to spread the word and diversify our surroundings. I look forward to hearing from many of you.

Martha