Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is offering virtual programs this spring, to learn about local frogs, the life of a tree and everything you need to know about pollinators and gardening.

Visit the TRCA's Community Learning Events page for more details and to register.

• What are pollinators?
• What is the City doing to protect pollinators?
• Grow Zones
• Actions you can take to protect pollinators
• Other resources

​What are the Five B's?

The Five B's are pollinators - birds, butterflies, bees, beetles and bats!   Most of us think of butterflies and bees when it comes to pollination, but we can’t ignore other insects, birds and mammals that play an important role in pollination.

Among other initiatives, planting pollinator gardens with host plants that support pollinators will begin to regrow habitat and support population growth of these species in the City of Vaughan. Scroll down to find more information on how you can create a pollinator garden at home.

Use these fun activities to help teach your kids about pollination and why it is important: 

• Pollinator Scavenger Hunt - discover the great outdoors and learn about pollination. You may not be able to find many flowers or pollinators in early spring, but you can do the scavenger hunt again in the summer and compare results!
• Pollination Crossword Puzzle - visit Pollinator Partnership Canada for more information about Pollinator Week in June!
• Whose Home? Interactive game for species at risk - visit TRCA Monarch Nation to download
• Did You Know? Fact Sheet - learn some fun facts about the Monarch Butterfly!
• Butterfly Origami
• Make your own Butterfly Wings
• Make your own Pasta Plant Marker

What is the City doing to protect pollinators?

Grow Zones

Have you seen this sign in City parks recently and are wondering what they are about?

In 2019, the City of Vaughan's Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations department piloted a revised mowing program to leave strategic "Grow Zones" unmowed. These Grow Zones focus on converting specific areas in City parks covered by grass into naturalized meadows and pollinator gardens. This initiative will help the City achieve targets set in Green Directions Vaughan, as well as to meet actions identified in the Mayors' Monarch Pledge.  

These Grow Zones are being allowed to naturalize, which will benefit a variety of pollinator and wildlife species, while also providing other environmental benefits such as the management of excess stormwater and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Mowing grass through the spring and summer months requires a significant amount of fuel and labour, so by minimizing the use of gas-powered equipment that is needed to manicure these areas, the City is contributing to a greener future.  

For more information on the Grow Zone initiative, please e-mail environment@vaughan.ca.

What can you do to protect pollinators?

Seasonal Maintenance Checklist:

• Wait until temperatures are consistently warm (around 15 degrees Celsius and above) before you clean up your garden. Pollinators overwinter inside leaves, stems and twigs and cleaning these up too early could indirectly harm the pollinators!
• Remove large clumps of leaves in your garden. Add this material to a composter if you have one.
• Add a fresh layer of mulch or compost to garden.
• Plant new materials and water during dry periods.
• Cut back dead material to the ground or leave it as is. Do not remove if there are birds’ nests, caterpillars or chrysalis.
•  Summer:
  

• Remove weeds and replenish mulch.
• Monitor the weather and be sure to water the garden during dry periods.
• Monitor and treat garden for pests*.
• Prune or thin any plants which are growing fast to promote good circulation 

• Divide perennials which have outgrown their space.
• Add 5-8cm of mulch.
• Leave any dead matter or leaf material where possible.
• Remove any plants that did not grow.
• Plant trees or shrubs. 

• Prune shrubs and small trees.
• Make plans for spring planting.

• Mulch – controls weeds, improves soil and moisture, protects plant roots
• Hand pull weeds from the root
• Smother large areas of weeds with heavy duty plastic bags or landscape fabric (early fall and left until spring)
• Select plants that are native to your local area and include a variety
• Avoid overcrowding plants
• Examine plant leaves frequently - removing the effected leaves from a plant can stop any insect or disease damage.
• Remember that certain ‘weeds’ are beneficial to pollinators, such as the common milkweed or golden rod.

• Choose a sunny, sheltered location. Cold-blooded butterflies need warm temperatures to fly and feed. Place a flat rock in a sunny area as a basking spot for butterflies to warm themselves on.
• Include host plants for larval (caterpillar) and bright, fragrant flowers for adult butterflies. Make sure you are planting native species.
• Create “mud puddles” (an area of exposed soil) in the garden. Butterflies use these as a source of water and nutrients.
• Avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Butterflies and caterpillars are very sensitive to these products.  

Create a bee garden 

If you are interested in creating specific habitat for bees, follow these general guidelines:

• Leave dead stems on plants and holes in trees for solitary bees to nest in or hide during storms.
• Remove invasive plants by hand, but keep in mind that Dandelions and clover are sources of nutrition for bees
• Leave a patch of bare, sunny ground so bees can dig into the soil. Mud puddles provide a source of hydration and habitat building material for solitary bees
• Avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers
• Plant a mix of native species of different heights, colours and shapes. Bees are generally attracted to white, yellow, blue and purple flowers.

Additional Resources