Pollination occurs when wind or pollinators (our Five B’s and many more) move pollen from one flower to another. When pollination is successful, it allows plants to reproduce which supports ecosystems and the organisms that depend on the plants for food and shelter. Communities also depend on pollination to grow crops. Pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat! The problem is, wild pollinators are under stress and in many cases their populations are on a decline. Disease, pests, climate change, pesticides and reduced habitats have resulted in the decline of our Five B’s and other pollinators.

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

 

• On September 21, 2019 the City hosted a Greenbelt Urban River Valley event at a local park, with funding from Park People and the Greenbelt Foundation. Community groups and NGOs taught the public about local food and pollinator programs. A pollinator garden was also planted in the park with citizens who attended.
• Keep reading for information on how to create your own pollinator garden!

• The City purchased 1000 custom pollinator seed packets to give away at community events in 2019 - the Environmental Sustainability department attended 34 events and gave out the seed packets

• Environmental Sustainability and Horticulture teams partnered with local businesses to plant two pollinator- friendly demonstration gardens - one at the City Hall Demonstration Garden and one at Vellore Heritage Square, a future location for a community garden and contains connections to a forested trail, neighbourhood and major road.

• The City of Vaughan supports 4 community gardens on City-owned land, with 2 more on the way. The City planted a pollinator garden at City Hall in the same location as the community garden, and one at Vellore Heritage Square which is a site for a future community garden. All new community gardens will include pollinator-friendly plant species. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer gardener, check out the garden locations and review our Community Garden Policy.

• The Monarch Pledge supports Green Directions Vaughan, the City’s Community Sustainability Plan by promoting the protection and enhancement of our natural environment. Actions 2.1.2 and 4.3.3 in Green Directions Vaughan, relating to local food and programming, include planting and expanding pollinator/monarch habitat.

• The City is encouraging community garden groups that operate gardens on city-owned land to plant nectar-producing plants near the gardens.
• The City has collaborated with existing community groups to help promote the planting of native milkweed and nectar-producing plants, including the Woodbridge Horticultural Society, Neighbours Sharing Native and Pollinator Plants and Shoresh.

• The City's Parks departments has adopted revised mowing programs, leaving sections of land in parks as Grow Zones. Two such zones were planted and left to grow in 2019.

9) Adopt pesticide practices that are not harmful to pollinators.

• The City regulates the use of pesticides on public and private property, refer to By-law 88-2008.

Create a Pollinator garden

 

   Black-eyed Susan              Butterfly Milkweed                    Joe Pye Weed

 

 White Turtlehead                   Wild Columbine 

 Seasonal Maintenance:

• 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.

• 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.