Wildflower Power:

We see it everywhere we go, the beautiful green lawns that are synonymous with American suburbia and homeowner pride. It's almost as if the pinnacle of success is having the greatest lawn presentation with a perfect shade of green, made possible by perfectly cut grass. While grass certainly looks nice and is practical for outdoor activities, the idea that perfection is a vast green field that embodies nature at its finest is a widespread misconception. Nature does not benefit from green lawns, in fact, nature is suffering from them. 

We need to rethink the purpose of our yards and go beyond the artificial green oasis trend. Flowers are not just a colorful solution, many feed pollinators which are essential for ecosystems to flourish. Pollinators are also the unsung heroes of our food supply. Bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects play a crucial role in pollinating crops, which is necessary to produce fruits, vegetables, and nuts. But pollinators are in serious trouble. Their populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. This decline is a cause for concern, as nearly 75% of the world's crops rely on pollinators for reproduction. When looking across a nation you see lots of vast green grass landscapes, and it is undeniable that these grass deserts are contributing to the habitat loss of pollinators. It's time to add some color to the green and make functional yards that feed pollinators.

Homeowners can make a big difference by starting the trend of keeping wildflowers (often called weeds) in their yards or choosing aesthetically desirable flowers that also feeds pollinators. While some go above and beyond allowing wildflowers to take over their yard, it is unrealistic to expect every homeowner to abandon their grass lawns and luckily they don't have to. Just by dedicating a portion of a yard to feeding pollinators makes a big difference you can actually see. Pollinators will be grateful for the meal while your green desert will become a colorful and lively garden. There are many online resources to help homeowners get started, check these options out and spread the word:

• Many local government website now have dedicated pages on how to help the local pollinators, just search "pollinators" and your "state" to find an official site.

• Local shops that sell seeds such as garden shops or even big stores like Home Depot will also have dedicated info pages or shop signs to help you prioritize pollinators.

• Small organization like Seed-Balls.com (available on Amazon) sell hassle free seed bombs by region, making it even easier to get planting fast and help your local pollinators. 

The benefits of these initiatives are twofold: Not only do they provide food and habitat for pollinators, but they also beautify urban and suburban areas. Wildflowers and native plants can add a splash of color and diversity to an urban community or suburban landscape. But which plants should be chosen? It's important to select plants that are native to the local area. These plants have evolved alongside local pollinators, so they are best adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the area. They are also more likely to provide the food and shelter that local pollinators need to thrive. In addition to providing food and habitat, it's also important to reduce pesticide use in suburban and urban areas. Pesticides can harm pollinators and reduce their populations. Instead, cities and suburbs can adopt integrated pest management practices that prioritize non-toxic pest control methods. There are many nonprofits (you can find online) addressing this issue in big cities by getting communities to come together to plant gardens and green spaces in otherwise vacant areas. 

Overall, protecting and boosting pollinator populations should be a priority for cities and suburbs alike. By increasing the number of wildflowers and native plants in these areas, we can help ensure the continued health of our food supply and the well-being of these important insects. Remember, grass lawns may look nice but they are not sustainable as they do not contribute to the local ecosystems or overall food supply and instead contribute to habitat loss. It helps to spread the word and spread some seeds where you can.