What is Pollination? It's not always an insect or animal warmth in late winter through spring that pollinates. Anemophily is the act and summer, until last call in autumn, By Melissa Drozd of wind currents distributing pollen flowering plants are available to their Pollination is the act of that is light and non sticky. There are pollinators providing pollen and nectar transferring grains of pollen from the many crop plants that are wind in exchange for the pollination service. male part of the flower which is the pollinators such as wheat, corn, and Pollination activity during the day anther, to the female part of the flower oats. Read “Turning Leaves” on page 5 is usual but what can happen at which is the stigma. Flowers are the to learn more. nighttime sometimes is remarkable. tools that plants use to make their Why is pollination beneficial to Two researchers discovered that seeds. Seeds can be produced when human life? We partially depend on pollination in a plant species of pollen is transferred between flowers bees, birds and bats for 35% of the Ephedra is correlated with the full of the same species. worlds crop production. Human moon (www.earthsky.org). So far, no Pollinators such as bees, nutrition is vital and pollination gives other plant waits for a full moon in butterflies, moths and even bats will us the nutrients we need that come order to get pollinated. The plant is carry pollen from one flower to from the fruit, nuts and seeds we eat pollinated by nocturnal insects such as another. With bees, for example, the (www.internationalpollinatorsinitiative. moths because the plant produces pollen gets stuck to their feet when org). globules of sugary substances that the they land on one flower and then they Bees have a very hard work ethic insects are attracted to which shimmer transfer that pollen to other flowers and are important to our every day in the moonlight. they land on. lives considering they pollinate one- Climate change is something we as According to Sunset.com, there are sixth of flowering plant species humans contributed to and face daily. a few plants that are best for worldwide and 400 different Thankfully, pollinators have different pollinators such as butterfly weed and agricultural types of plants traits and responses to atmospheric the sunflower. Butterfly weed has a (www.onegreenplanet.org). A few transitions. With so many diverse beautiful yellow-orange cluster of crops we would miss out on if bees of pollinators, we minimize the risks of flowers. Many years ago its tough root all types did not pollinate our food climate change because there will be was chewed by Indians as a cure for sources would be onion, broccoli, and pollinators that can thrive in current, as pleurisy and other pulmonary ailments apricots. well as future, conditions. (www.wildflower.org). The sunflower There are many types of Pollination overall is good for is a more well-known pollinator. pollinators and many reasons why animals, its good for the Earth and its During its growth, it will tilt toward the plants and flowers get pollinated, but good for human beings. sun, but once its done growing, it will when pollination occurs is interesting tilt no more. By the time they are in and of itself. From the first hints of mature, they generally face east. Pg 2 Photography | Pg 4 Pollinator Value | Pg 7 Classes PHOTOGRAPHING POLLINATORS By Barb Carberry When we decided on pollination as this quarter’s theme, bring back more and more native birds, flowers, insects, and we also agreed that an appropriate hobby to accompany this wildlife. After a couple years, she upgraded her equipment theme is photography. It’s true that many photographers and added lens options which come to Lake Katherine to capture images of special people allow for closer views. Now she and events. Many others prefer general nature photos says that she still lets the focusing on the swans, ducklings, and wildflowers. But the “camera do most of the work” type of photography we want to consider here is digital except for the light in each macro photography, which generally means extremely “close photo which she adjusts using up” photography of very small subjects. The size of the ISO sensitivity settings. Jeanne Orange Sulfur butterfly on New subject in the photo is life size or greater allowing us to England Aster added that she now composes actually see pollen transferring to a bee’s legs or a her pictures more deliberately hummingbird’s tongue collecting nectar. while still reflecting the reality of each image as it exists The person who immediately naturally. Finally, she commented that she often has to came to mind for her Carpenter bee on goldenrod, invest a lot of time taking multiple shots and depend on by Jeanne Muellner, Autumn, photography was Jeanne 2014 serendipity to capture her perfect image. Muellner, a long time Orland Another local photographer, John Ondracek, shared Grassland volunteer. Seasonally, several of his macro photographs. We included this Jeanne shares her digital photo hummingbird which was taken with a 1/1000 of a second collection with volunteers, and I shutter speed. John says that remembered recently seeing some he enjoys nature photography great pollinator shots from her and often presents his work at Autumn, 2014 collection. art and craft shows. So, if you Jeanne says she started are someone who enjoys photographing at Orland photography and uses more Grassland with her “point and than your smart phone to take shoot” Nikon Coolpix because pictures, check your camera she purposefully wanted to keep a for a “macro” setting and look photographic record of how the restoration was working to for the pollinators! MATCH THE POLLINATOR 1) Hummingbird _______ 2) Beetle _______ 3) Bee _______ 4) Butterfly _______ A. Water Lily B. Sunflower C. Honeysuckle D. Milkweed (Answers: 1.C, 2. A, 3. B, 4. D) 2 By Barb Carberry Many of us enjoy the beauty of So here are a few guidelines for our area is #5 “Eastern Broadleaf flowers in our backyard and choosing plants to use as pollinator Forest Province.” Some specific native community gardens, but we often don’t attractors: plants the Forest Service lists that understand the role our gardens play in Use local native plants. These are thrive in our area and attract a variety providing habitats for pollinators. more attractive to pollinators than of pollinators are: asters, blazing star, Although pollen is carried by the wind, exotic flowers. They provide nectar Virginia bluebells, beardtongue, and some plants are self-pollinating, to pollinating bees and butterflies, bergamot, coneflowers, columbine, about 90% of flowering plants require food to caterpillars, and nutrition coreopsis, goldenrod, Joe Pye weed, assistance for pollination which comes for birds. lobelia, milkweed, and sunflowers primarily from native insect pollinators Plant flowers in clumps. This will among others. Add a few of these such as bees, butterflies, moths, attract more pollinators than native plants to your garden and expect hummingbirds, beetles, wasps and even individual flowers dispersed to see some pollinators! flies. throughout the garden. This year, National Pollinator Many pollinator populations have Plant flowers with different shapes. Week is being celebrated June 15 – 21. declined due to habitat loss, disease, Different pollinators favor flowers Many activities for this event are and inappropriate pesticide use. We specific to their anatomy. shared at “Pollinator Partnership” must realize that pollinators are vital to Choose a variety of flower colors www.pollinator.org . Also, the U.S. maintaining healthy ecosystems, to appeal to different pollinators. Department of Agriculture Forest assisting plant reproduction, and aiding Plant so that something will be Service (www.fs.fed.us) provides the genetic diversity in the plants they blooming from early spring table below to help identify the flower pollinate. A gardener with even a small through late fall. characteristics that attract specific plot will increase the number of pollinators. Use the information to pollinators in the area by including The U.S. Forest Service has match the pollinator with one of its plants that provide essential habitats divided the country into districts, and favored flowers. for them. Trait Bats Bees Beetles Birds Butterflies Flies Moths Wind Color Dull white, green Bright white, Dull white or Scarlet, orange, Bright, including Pale and dull to Pale and dull red, Dull green, or purple yellow, blue, or green red or white red and purple dark brown or purple, pink or brown, or UV purple; flecked white colorless; petals with translucent absent or patches reduced Nectar Guides Absent Present Absent Absent Present Absent Absent Absent Odor Strong musty; Fresh, mild, None to strongly None Faint but fresh Putrid Strong sweet; None emitted at night pleasant fruity or fetid emitted at night Nectar Abundant; Usually present Sometimes Ample; deeply Ample; deeply Usually absent Ample; deeply None somewhat hidden present; not hidden hidden hidden hidden Pollen Ample Limited; often Ample Modest Limited Modest in amount Limited Abundant; small, sticky and smooth, and not scented sticky Flower Shape Regular; bowl Shallow; have Large bowl-like, Large funnel like; Narrow tube with Shallow; funnel Regular; tubular Regular: small shaped – closed landing platform; Magnolia cups, strong spur; wide landing like or complex without a lip and stigmas during day tubular, perch support pad and trap-like exerted 3 PUTTING AN ECONOMIC VALUE ON POLLINATION By Abbie Schrotenboer Have you ever stopped to watch a bumble bee visit a tomato flower? The bee aids the plant by releasing pollen and potentially carrying it to another plant, and the bee benefits by getting pollen to eat. Of course, the human growing the tomato also benefits because tomato production increases.