Press Release
Step outside into your yard, community garden, or a nearby city park and take in the sights, scents, sounds, and movements of the season. With temperatures on the rise and daylight hours stretching longer as we move into spring, a diverse array of plant life is poised and ready to come to life.
When in bloom, eastern columbine, resembling long maroon church bells, beckons hummingbirds to draw nectar with their specialized, pollen-bearing beaks. Hoary azalea bursts forth with starburst-like pink blossoms, inviting a flurry of butterflies and moths. Bloodroot unveils its solitary white flower just above the humus layer, welcoming beetles with ease. And before their springtime foliage unfurls, redbuds explode in hot pink, attracting bees from miles around.
Though these displays are breathtaking to us, these species aren't blooming for mere aesthetics. They are indifferent to the beauty we find in them and the joy they bring us as the seasons shift.
No, these plants are showcasing themselves for the very creatures drawn to their vibrant, blooming, nectar-rich offerings: pollinators.
Throughout March, NCWF is ushering in the colorful spring season by honoring March for Pollinators.
While the monarch butterfly has garnered increased attention over the years for its vital pollinating role, stunning beauty, and precarious plight, it doesn't work alone in its pollinating prowess. A diverse array of pollinators are absolutely essential to the prosperity of plant life across our state.
Unfortunately, many of these pollinators face mounting pressures and declining populations due to habitat loss, urbanization, pollution, invasive species, and detrimental agricultural and landscaping practices.
The state's Wildlife Action Plan, crafted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and partners, identifies numerous pollinator species in need of conservation efforts. These species offer invaluable pollinating services to a wide range of native plant species throughout the state, including those that mitigate erosion, provide shelter for wildlife, secure our food supply, reduce climate change impacts, and more.
This month, join us as we spotlight these North Carolina pollinators, their habitats, and the steps you can take to help them.
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