Pam Carlstrom from Sundance Gardens presented a program on the importance of pollinators in our garden. Some of the highlights included:
- Described how using native plants can be more nutritionally valuable, the pollen and nectar is more accessible than hybrid varieties.
- Explained the difference between native plants and hybrid cultivars.
- Listed a few native plants for our mountain communities: Rocky Mtn Penstemon, Prairie Coneflower, Showy Milkweed, Blue Flax, Goldenrod, Rocky Mtn Bee Plant, and Blanketflower to name a few.
- Spoke about grouping plants of the same species together in a landscape for pollinators.
- Recommended using flowering plants throughout the season starting with bulbs, early bloomers, and late summer bloomers.
- Advocated for pesticide avoidance whenever possible.
- Suggested waiting to clean up your garden in the spring until pollinators have woken up and leaving the dandelions in the yard for early-season food for the pollinators.
She encouraged us to incorporate native plants in our gardens because they attract our pollinators and are resilient, drought tolerant, and manage weather changes. She also brought a variety of pollinator seeds which members could purchase.