National Pollinator Week is June 17-23. Why celebrate pollinators? Our pollinators are not only essential, they are in trouble, as are many of the plants where they find and distribute pollen. Climate change and human activities are the major reasons for this problem.

Why is it a problem? It is estimated that one out of three bites of food we eat is pollinated, in large part, by animal life, especially bees and other insects. Without our pollinators, we humans will have less fruit to pick, less garden vegetables to feast upon, and less beautiful flowering plants to enjoy in spring and summer.

Human activities can also be part of the solution. Through planting for pollinators, we can make a huge impact supporting plant and food production.

I am writing to congratulate the City of Danville and the Garden Club of Danville for their efforts to help protect and grow gardens for our pollinators. Under the leadership of Janet Hamlin, Alexis Amorese, Preston Miles, master gardeners and others, we now have pollinator gardens in locations throughout the city, and more gardens are being added as I write.

The Garden Club of Danville has helped sponsor many of these efforts. In addition, the garden club has contributed yearly to tree planting in the city, including helping to fund trees planted by Beau Weston and Alexis Amorese and others throughout the city. These trees are also host plants for the caterpillars of pollinating butterflies and moths. In recognition for their work planting and maintaining pollinator gardens at Constitution Square and McDowell House, GCD received awards this spring from both the Garden Club of Kentucky and the National Garden Club ($200 runner-up award, Civic Wildflower Plantings).

Growing trees, herbs, annuals and native plants for pollinators is essential for their survival.  Danville, Kentucky can be proud of efforts by the city, county extension, and garden club to support this important work.

By choosing to plant pollinator plants in your garden, you can join in this effort. The Boyle County UK Extension Office has information on pollinator gardening; and check out the GCD’s website, http://thegardenclubofdanville.org, for program schedules and native plant gardening articles. It truly does take a community to save the future for us all.

Linda Porter

Butterfly and Pollinator Chair

The Garden Club of Kentucky

Danville