June 17-23 is National Pollinator Week. It’s time to celebrate bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. Pollinators are vital for most flowers, fruits and vegetables to reproduce.
Many of the country's crops would not exist and crop yield and quality would be greatly reduced without pollinators. Unfortunately, the pollinator population, in particular the honeybee, has declined rapidly in recent years because of habitat loss, pesticide overuse and disease.
The City of Roseville has taken notice. The city has several programs and practices to help protect pollinators, including preserving natural areas, enhancing habitat, using native plants and limiting use of insecticides and herbicides in its landscaping.
One of the city’s biggest pollinator projects is at Midland Gardens Park, 2434 Cleveland Ave. In September 2018, volunteers planted more than 3,500 pollinator-friendly plants, shrubs and trees.
Visit www.cityofroseville.com/pollinators to get information about creating pollinator-friendly habitats.