Central MN Buzz: Did You Know It’s Pollinator Week?

This week is all about the bees… but not just the bees. It’s also about the butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, beetles, bats, and even those often-overlooked flies and wasps. June 16–22 marks National Pollinator Week — a time to recognize the unsung heroes that keep our ecosystems healthy and our food supply thriving.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, “Without pollinators, the human race and all of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.” That may sound dramatic, but it’s true. Nearly 80% of the world’s flowering plants, including over 1,400 food crops, depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. That includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, and even oils like sunflower, canola, and palm. In fact, over half of the world’s dietary fats and oils come from plants that rely on pollinators.

But pollinators don’t just help feed us. Flowering plants also produce the oxygen we breathe, filter the water we drink, and stabilize the soil under our feet. So when we support pollinators, we’re also supporting life itself.

So What Can You Do?

You don’t need acres of land to make a difference. A flower pot on a balcony, a birdbath in the front yard, or even a dish of water with a few flat rocks can offer vital resources to pollinators.

In my yard, I’ve set out shallow water dishes with stones for thirsty insects to safely land. I’ve also planted pollinator-friendly flowers around my home, and the results are beautiful and buzzing.

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Here Are Some Pollinator Favorites to Try:

• Purple Coneflowers – Hardy, sun-loving blooms that attract bees and butterflies. They grow 2 to 5 feet tall and thrive in most soils.

• Lanceleaf Coreopsis – Bright yellow and low-maintenance, these drought-tolerant flowers bring in butterflies, moths, and bees—and even seed-loving birds.

• Butterfly Milkweed – These vivid orange flowers are essential for monarch caterpillars. They support more butterflies and caterpillars than blooms, making them a pollinator powerhouse.

Teach It, Share It, Grow It

By planting even a few flowers, you’re creating a haven for pollinators—and setting an example for the next generation. Let’s use this week as a reminder: these small creatures are holding up the world. The least we can do is give them a place to land.