It’s Pollinator Week! D.C.’s got all sorts of bees, bats, birds, and bugs that are vital to our local ecosystem. Here are a few things you can do to support them in their hunt for a good meal.
Plant a pollinator garden:
Flowering gardens are a great way to support pollinators, but what you plant matters. Invasive plants have become a major threat to D.C.’s flora and fauna and should be avoided.
Some of the most common flowers around D.C. like wisteria and honeysuckle are actually out-of-towners. You should also avoid planting daylilies, bluebells, and other invasive species on this list. Instead, plant native flowers like sunflowers, black-eyed Susans, goldenrods, or any of these.
Use pesticides sparsely and responsibly:
When buying pesticides, look for an EPA registration number on the container. This means it has been through safety testing. Even better, just knock bugs off with water or hand-pick them off.
Beehives at the Congressional Cemetery (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Buy local or organic:
If you are able, support agriculture that doesn’t use pesticides and instead provides food sources for pollinators.
Record them for research:
Contribute to scientific research by submitting your pollinator observations to projects such as iNaturalist and Bumble Bee Watch. This helps scientists track and better understand pollinator populations.
