How can we help?
POLLINATION FUN FACTS
Here are some ways we can help pollinators:
• Plant a diversity of plants that bloom throughout the growing season at home, school, or at community centers. This will provide a continuous supply of pollen and nectar for pollinators.
• Plant native plants that provide shelter and a food source for pollinators in all stages of their life cycle.
• Leave areas of uncut grass or wildflowers to provide shelter for pollinators.
• Avoid using pesticides and herbicides.
• Spread the word to others! Teach your community about the importance of pollinators.
UMN Twin Cities Bee Campus
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus is home to research, outreach, arts and education programs that promote pollinator conservation and have contributed greatly to public education and awareness of pollinators in Minnesota and globally.
​
UMN Twin Cities is now an affiliate of Bee Campus USA, an initiative of the Xerces Society that raises awareness of the importance of pollinators and actions each of us can take to help pollinators.
​
As an official Bee Campus, Extension and several University colleges have pledged to highlight and expand our actions to promote pollinator conservation.
​
You can visit a wide variety of pollinator habitats on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campuses in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. These habitats are maintained using pollinator-friendly integrated pest management (IPM).
​
UMN Landcare created a map of the pollinator habitat on campus. The map automatically updates when new habitats are created or found.
​
About Bee Campus USA
The Bee Campus USA - University of Minnesota Twin Cities Committee members include faculty, student, and staff from colleges across the UMN Twin Cities campus. You can view the list of committee members and our meeting schedule.
If you are interested in volunteering to help Bee Campus USA - University of Minnesota Twin Cities, sign up!
Gold Award: Process of My Pollinator Project
Nicole - Girl Scout from Rogers, Arkansas
Jan 15, 2021
Runtime: 3:05
This video shows how my project started and how it will be maintained throughout the years. By watching this, you can learn how to take your own steps to aid our pollinators. Our agriculture and the ecosystem relies on pollinators. Since pollinator populations are declining, mainly due to human activities, we need to start advocating and working toward their preservation. Go to the Pollinator Project website to contribute and learn more about my project and pollinators' importance. Sign the Pollinator Pledge Now:Â https://pollinatoractionproject.weebly.com/
Pollinator garden becomes Eagle Scout project
Channel 12 News
Scott McCullough - Eagle Scout from Plymouth, Minnesota
Jul 25, 2016
Runtime: 1:28
17–year old Scott McCullough, of Plymouth, is passionate about protecting bees and butterflies. He planted a pollinator friendly garden in Zachary park. "They're vital for our survival, they provide us with our food and keep our gardens and everything pretty," he said. The 1,000 square foot area used to be filled with weeds and rocks, but the city of Plymouth cleaned it up and put in new soil. Then, Scott and a few of his buddies, planted 232 native grasses, bushes and flowers. Plymouth paid for the plants, which cost about 1,000 dollars "I've got swamp milk weed which is really good for Monarch butterflies, " said the Wayzata High School senior. Scott and his mom maintain the garden including doing the weeding and watering by hand. But he says all the hard work is worth it, if it builds up the bee and butterfly populations. "I'm hoping when I come back in 5 years or so, it will be all grown up and it will just be cool to see." Scott is on track to become an Eagle Scout next month. Sonya Goins, reporting
UMN Extension Fall Cleanup for Pollinators
UMN Extension - Yard and Garden
Nov 4, 2018
Runtime: 6:23
Is your garden and yard pollinator-friendly ALL year 'round? Extension Educator Julie Weisenhorn shows you how to adjust your fall cleanup routine to help pollinators through the fall and winter. Make your landscape home to native pollinators--it's Smart Gardening!
Guests
We have some special Guest Speakers to help us with the Pollinator Patch activities.
Guest Engineer from Xcel Energy
Pollinator Program Overview
Pollinators like bees and butterflies are vital to our existence, but some of their species are declining. Xcel Energy is doing our part to help, and we’re working with partners to make a positive impact in the community to protect the creatures large and small. We’ve been supporting the development and maintenance of pollinator habitats for over 30 years, and we’re not giving up.
Xcel Energy Pollinator Program
A presentation on how Xcel Energy promotes areas for Pollinators in Minnesota.
​
Recorded April 19, 2021 during the Unite for Earth Day 2021 Zoom session.
Guest Engineer is Ms. Michelle from Xcel Energy.
(Runtime: 7m 20s)
Guest Master Gardener from Rosie's Gardens
What types of plants can you plant to help bring pollinators to your yard and gardens? She will talk about plants you could plant to help attract and support your native pollinators. Remember to include plants needed in all stages of a pollinator’s life.
​
Photos provided by Natural Shore Technologies.
​
This covers Activity 11 below,
Activities
As part of the Pollinator Patch, please complete at least one of Activities 9-12.
Have fun with your family.
Activity 9 - CREATE A POSTER OR BROCHURE
Promoting the significance of pollinators is one of the most important things you can do to help pollinator populations. Create a poster or brochure for family and friends, at school or at home, to share all the information you learned about pollinators while completing this patch.
Activity 10 - WRITE A LETTER
Asking your school, local park, or community center to leave a small portion of their property wild and un-mowed to provide habitat for pollinators. If every citizen and business owner let a portion of their property grow wild and un-mowed, it would help create a connecting corridor of plants to provide habitats for the wild and native bees and other pollinators that are in trouble.
Write a letter asking your school, local park, or community center to leave a small portion of their property wild and un-mowed to provide habitat for pollinators. Find out more at Wild for Pollinators at: https://kidsgardening.org/wild-for-pollinators-program.
Activity 11 - RESEARCH POLLINATORS NATIVE TO YOUR AREA
The Pollinator Partnership offers free Ecoregional Planting Guides available at http://pollinator.org/guides that are an excellent resource to begin your search.
Make a list of plants you could plant to help attract and support your native
pollinators. Remember to include plants needed in all stages of a pollinator’s life. For example, monarch butterfly larva (caterpillars) feed exclusively on milkweed.
Activity 12 - DRAW A DESIGN
For a pollinator garden for a home, school, or community center. Include all the elements pollinators need for a supportive habitat, including a variety of native plants, a water source, and places for shelter. You don’t need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden. Even a few containers of flowers can attract hungry bees and butterflies. If resources allow, plant your dream pollinator garden too!