Carbon chamber to recognize National Pollinator Week

In the last several years, honey bee colony collapse has been the big news. Even now, scientists have not identified the exact cause and mechanism of colony collapse. In fact, it's possible that there is no one cause.

Research at Penn State and other land grant colleges points toward several factors acting together.

Pesticides and herbicides have been found in the bodies of the bees and in their larvae. The rise in acreage devoted to wind pollinated crops like corn coupled with the destruction of wild flowers near crop fields is implicated. One thing is certain. The bees simply can't find enough of the kind of food they need.

In 1997, a group of concerned citizens formed the Pollinator Partnership to see what could be done to save the honey bees and native pollinators. Their mission was to promote research, outreach, and education relating to pollinators. They undertook a national campaign to increase pollinator awareness.

In 2014 their efforts were rewarded. The White House announced the first comprehensive pollinator initiative ever created by the federal government. The third week in June was declared National Pollinator Week.

This year, the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce is joining the pollinator initiative by declaring June 20 a day of celebration and pollinator awareness. The event is called "Carbon County in Bloom."

Five public pollinator gardens in Carbon County will have programs, lectures and handouts available that day to show gardeners what we can do in our own gardens to help the pollinators survive.

For more information on the event, visit DiscoverCarbonPa.com and click on "events-festivals and fairs."

The planting season is in full swing right now, so what can you do to help the pollinators? Let's start with roadsides and lawns. Right now the wildflowers are blooming, and often they are blooming in ditches and in your lawn. Instead of mowing them down, take a look at the pollinator activity they create.

In my garden paths and in my lawn, I have daisy fleabane, a tiny white or pinkish native flower the size of a dime. That little plant is a host plant to butterflies, and visited regularly by tiny bees who can't get nectar from large hybrids.

Last year's petunias sprouted on the gravel path instead of in the flower bed. Same thing with my tiny blue forget-me-nots. Bees are attracted to cool colors, and butterflies like warm colors, so I have tiny bees buzzing around these unexpected flowers. When the season's done, I'll clean up the gravel path, but not until the flowers have gone to seed so I'll get some surprises next spring.

Eileen East is a gardener and a member of the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce.

IF YOU GO:

The following gardens will be open June 20 and will offer programs for those interested in learning more.

1. Hill Home Forge Bed and Breakfast, 10 Flagstaff Road, Jim Thorpe. From 1to 3 p.m. tour a certified pollinator garden in a residential setting. A Master Gardener will be on hand to answer questions.

2. Friend of the Dimmick Library Memorial Garden, 58 Broadway, Jim Thorpe. The garden will be open during the day and the Friends will offer books and educational materials about saving our bees.

3. Lehigh Gap Nature Center, 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington, will offer talks, tours and displays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Depending on the activity, there may be a fee.

4. Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary, 18 Church Road, Jim Thorpe, offers live butterflies and hourly programs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a fee.

5. Penn Kidder Library and Visitor Center, Pine Point Plaza, 2589 Route 903, Albrightsville, will offer a presentation by Master Gardener Pat Suda at 1 p.m. on "The Birds, The Bees, and the Beetles."

For more information, visit www.DiscoverCarbonPA.com and click "Events festivals & Fairs" or call 610-379-5000.