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Gem Lake News Page 3 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />Add Color to Your Yard, Create <br />a Pollinator Garden <br /> <br />By Jim Lindner <br /> <br />Creating a pollinator garden is an easy way to add color <br />to your backyard, reduce the amount of lawn you need <br />to mow, and make a home for bees and other <br />pollinators. Pollinators are important as they perform <br />necessary agricultural tasks vital to crop development <br />as they simply go about their daily routines. <br /> <br />What is a pollinator? Most people think of bees as the <br />primary pollinators, and to a degree, this is correct. <br />Bees are estimated to pollinate up to $19 billion worth <br />of food in the United States each year. But butterflies, <br />moths, birds, small mammals, and bats also serve as <br />pollinators contributing around $10 billion worth of food <br />crops in the US annually. That’s a lot of food. <br /> <br />If you want to try your hand at making a pollinator <br />garden, there are numerous resources, both online and <br />at your local library. The Forest Service division of the <br />US Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several <br />online resources. Basically, once you’ve identified the <br />area you’d like to create a garden, start by turning over <br />the soil to break up any sod. Renting a rototiller is a <br />quick and efficient way to turn the soil, but a shovel and <br />hoe will also work. You may wish to add some <br />composted soil but know that native plants have <br />adapted to native soils. Reducing the amount of man- <br />made fertilizers is better for the pollinators as such <br />fertilizers may increase soil nitrogen or phosphorus <br />levels. Also, avoid pesticides as much as possible. <br /> <br />Seeds or forbs are available through local garden <br />centers or from online nurseries. Your best bet is to <br />keep a local focus assuring your plants will thrive in <br />Minnesota. Using a variety of seeds or forbs will <br />provide color throughout the year. Staff at the Vadnais <br />Lake Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) are <br />another resource. VLAWMO staff offer pollinator <br />garden workshops in the spring and have various cost- <br />share programs to help with expenses. Local master <br />gardening websites also have valuable information. <br /> <br />After the growing season allow your garden to remain <br />intact over the winter months. The following spring you <br />can clean out dead plant stalks. Know that many native <br />bees are ground nesting and adding mulch, though <br />helpful for plants, may be detrimental to the bees. You <br />may also see small trees sprouting in your garden. <br />These can be cut back to prevent them from becoming <br />too large and taking over the garden. <br /> <br />The following websites are a sample of resources <br />available to help plan and construct a successful <br />pollinator garden: <br /> <br />www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/gardening.shtml <br /> <br />www.anokamastergardeners.org/blog/give-bees-a- <br />chance-fall-cleanup-for-pollinators <br /> <br />www.vlawmo.org/ <br /> <br /> Gem Lake Has Facebook Page <br /> <br />Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence has designed and <br />published a Facebook page for the City of Gem Lake. <br />The address is: <br />www.facebook.com/CityofGemLakeMN <br /> <br />The Facebook pages focuses primarily on special <br />announcements and news items, events, etc. It is <br />intended to compliment rather than replace the city <br />web-site. Please check it out and “like” and “follow” the <br />page. We are also looking for a few appropriate Gem <br />Lake photos. Your feedback is welcome! <br /> Heritage Hall Holiday Closure <br /> <br />Heritage Hall will be closed September 5 for Labor Day. <br /> <br />All other hours remain the same. Have a safe holiday! <br /> <br /> <br />