Free flower seeds help attract pollinators

It’s officially Spring, and time to help out the birds and bees with free pollinator seed mixes, available during the Pollinator Seed Giveaway, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the North Lake County Library.

During the event, Beth Waterbury discusses Monarch butterflies at 1:15 p.m. in a talk titled “Nature’s Marvels.” Other topics include “Basic Gardening and Pollinators.”

Free packets of seeds that attract pollinators are also available from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays from the Lake County Conservation District office, 64352 Hwy. 93, just south of Ronan. To schedule a visit, call 406-747-0895 or email LakeCD@macdnet.org.

Birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, small mammals, and most importantly, bees, are pollinators. They visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off pollen and transport tiny pollen grains as they move from spot to spot, nourishing between 75% and 95% or all flowering plant species, and helping countless fruits, vegetable and nuts grow in the process. Since many pollinator populations are in decline, humans can help by planting attractants in their gardens, planters or window boxes.

For more information on bee-friendly gardening, visit pollinator.org/bfg.