Did you know that one in every three bites of food we eat, from vegetables and fruits to seeds and nuts, is the result of pollination?  Pollination is the transfer of genetic material between plants, and can be enabled by wind, gravity, or by animals such as insects, birds and bats.  Nearly three-quarters of flowering plants rely on animal pollinators to develop seeds and fruits.  However many pollinators, including bees and bats, have fallen on tough times and they need our help.  You can attract pollinators to your garden by planting a variety of nectar-producing plants (especially natives), providing water and avoiding pesticides.  According to Dave Phelps of the Marin Master Gardeners “Two of the best garden elements to create for promoting pollinators are the meadow and "islands" for habitat. The traditional mowed and "weed-free" lawn is the worst.  By transitioning lawn areas into un-mowed, diverse meadows or combining climate-appropriate plants with nectar-producing plants, pollinators will have a much better chance to survive in their increasingly stressful environments.”

To find books in the library on attracting pollinators to your garden, look under the following subject headings:  Gardening to Attract Wildlife, Butterfly Gardening, Gardening to Attract Birds, Honeybee, and Insect Pollinators Conservation.