The GCA Celebrates National Pollinator Week

June 17, 2021

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Bats, and Beetles

National Pollinator Week 2021 will be celebrated during the week of June 21-27. The annual event was initiated and is managed by The Pollinator Partnership. In 2006, the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration, promoting the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats, and beetles.

At the Oudolf Garden Detroit, The Garden Club of Michigan (GCM) will work with a team from the Michigan State University Cooperative Extension Service to take part in a pollinator count. The Extension Service Team will train GCM volunteers and others how to count pollinators in the garden in its infancy. Next year's count will then show the impact of the garden on pollinators. 

In Villanova, Pennsylvania, The Planters club members will continue a butterfly survey begun in 2020 at Stoneleigh Garden. Last year, twenty-five species of butterflies were identified. The objective for 2021 is to supplement the 2020 findings so that Stoneleigh can continue to make informed decisions on where to plant specific native plants, shrubs, and trees in the garden. 

The Pollinator Partnership was awarded The Garden Club of America’s Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal in 2011 for championing pollinators. While this year might not be a typical Pollinator Week due to COVID-19 restrictions, people across the planet have pledged to continue promoting pollinator health and well-being through socially distanced and responsible events. Through the numerous virtual gatherings, webinars, responsible planting sessions, socially distanced garden and farm walks, and monument lightings, Pollinator Week 2021 is gearing up to be a busy one. For more information please visit www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week. 

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