Pollinators

What is pollination? Pollination is the act of moving pollen from the male part of a plant (the anther) to the female part of a plant (the stigma) so that the plant can produce seeds which will grow into the next generation of plant.

In some plant species, pollination occurs when the wind blows the pollen from one part of the flower to the other. For most plant species, pollination depends on the work of pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, bats, birds, and other creatures) to move the pollen into place. These creatures are drawn to the flowers because of their delicious nectar and pollen, which they eat. As they move from flower to flower, some of the pollen is accidentally left on the plant stigmas.

The pollinator population is in decline, partly due to reduced habitats, and partly due to pollution, chemical use, climate change, and other factors. Conservation efforts do make a difference. By planting shrubs, grasses, and trees which local pollinators love, pollinator populations can increase over time. The pollinators will also pollinate other nearby plants, helping the whole ecosystem to thrive.

Closing Thoughts

Thank you for taking time to walk through Tobit’s Trace and learn about stormwater and our local ecology. Please consider your role in our local ecosystem and how you might use what you learned today to make a few small efforts to affect our ecosystem in a positive way.

Some things you could do:

• Look for ways to slow runoff in your own yard.
• Watch what might be flowing from your yard into storm sewers and make more earth-friendly choices when selecting lawn, garden, and household chemicals.
• Mulch grass clippings and compost fall leaves and debris.
• Plant pollinators in your yard for bees and butterflies to enjoy.
• Join local ecology groups and volunteer your time to restore and maintain areas  around our streams. One very active group is Friends of Wolf Run: http://wolfrunwater.org/
• Join the Tobit’s Trace mailing list to receive updates and news about volunteer opportunities.  Click here.

If you enjoyed your visit to Tobit’s Trace, please consider making a small donation to help us maintain and improve it. Click the Make a Donation button below.