Pollinator seed mixes available

Lake County Conservation District has created pollinator-friendly seed mixes and now they need your help planting it. They will have an outside pick up zone for free seed packets this Thursday and Friday outside their office south of Ronan and by the Flathead Lakers Office at 110 Main St. Suite B in Polson.

District personnel kicked off Earth day week by planting eight pollinator plots as part of their newest Pollinator Initiative. The District provides free seed and technical assistance to landowners for installation of pollinator gardens to provide habitat and food sources for native pollinators and beneficial insects including bees, butterflies, and moths.

Pollinators use a wide variety of habitat and pollen sources. The Pollinator Initiative seed mix includes 21 flowering forb and 4 legume species which provide flowers of different shapes, sizes, heights, and colors to attract a wide variety of pollinators. The mix includes flowers that bloom at different times throughout the season to assure pollinators will have a food source all season long.

Due to the current pandemic, visitors are asked to follow social distancing guidelines when you come to pick up seed.

To learn more about the Flathead Conservation District Pollinator Initiative visit lakecountyconservationdistrict.org/pollinator-initiative. The Conservation District can help you select an appropriate site, provide guidance on site preparation, optimize timing of planting, and determine maintenance needs. “We can thank pollinators for one out of every three bites of food we take,” they say. “Why not give back?”