Monarch Butterflies: The Pollinator We Love

Monarch Butterflies Pollinators

Blazing orange-red wings, deep black veins, bright white polka dots – the distinctive colors of the North American monarch butterfly are instantly recognizable, as monarchs are one of the most well-known and beloved insects in the country. In schools, children study their incredible metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. And in communities across the US, researchers,

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What Plants Do Pollinators Love?

What Plants Do Pollinators Love?

Butterflies, bees, moths, and other insects, in addition to animal pollinators like bats and birds, are essential for pollinating flowers and plants. These pollinating species transport pollen from flower to flower, encouraging fertilization and thereby producing fruits and seeds. But to reap the greatest benefit from these pollinators, you’ll want to make sure to carefully

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What Pollinators Work on Your Farm?

Hummingbird wild flower pollinator

If it weren’t for pollinators, the agricultural industry would collapse as we know it. Eighty percent of the world’s food and plant products require pollination, making agricultural crop pollination worth over $3 trillion dollars globally. Pollinating insects, birds, and mammals are critical for crop production, with over 150 crops in the US alone dependent on

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Three Ways to Get Wildflowers to Pollinate Your Land

Bee flying to wildflower

Pollination is important to all the world’s seed plants, ecosystems, and humans. Pollinators are responsible for assisting over 80% of the world’s flowering plants to reproduce—meaning most of our food is produced with the help of pollinators. The most widely known pollinator is the bee, but pollinators can include other animals (like bats and hummingbirds)

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Plant of the month: Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Wild Bergamot

This signature purple flowered plant may be familiar to you by its wide use in teas and dried flower arrangements.  Wild Bergamot is also a resilient native plant that grows in almost any condition (except for the wettest of soils) and is a favorite among bees and butterflies. When selecting a seed mix containing wild

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Five Things to Consider When Designing a Good Seed Mix

farmer sowing seeds

A well-planned seed mix is essential to constructing a diverse and stable planting. Knowing the physical characteristics of the site is essential to choosing the most appropriate native plants for that site. A diverse planting normally includes a seed mix of annual, biennial, and perennial species. Cost and availability are two essential factors that come

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Warm Season Grass Establishment Mowing Is Critical to Stand Success

Mowing

In order to most effectively begin your Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) project, you will need to establish a solid protocol for mowing your grass from the start, typically beginning in June. The seeds we plant need lots of heat, sun, and moisture in order to germinate. The soil temperature needs to stay above 65 degrees

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Plant of the month – Stiff Goldenrod
(Solidago Rigida)

Stiff Goldenrod Solidago Rigida

Commonly associated with hay fever, the Stiff Goldenrod actually doesn’t have wind-blown pollen and therefore isn’t the source of your sniffles! Instead, these hearty wildflowers are adaptable and a favorite of birds and butterflies. Plant characteristics A perennial plant, stiff goldenrod has green leaves, yellow blooms, and can grow between three and six feet tall.

Plant of the month – Stiff Goldenrod
(Solidago Rigida)
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