Below is the main language used on the Pollinator Garden interpretive panel in English for ADA screen readers. Scroll down or click the numbers on the image to read that paragraph’s message.
Paragraph 1
A pollinator garden has plants that attract bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds, and other beneficial creatures that transfer pollen from flower to flower. Transferring pollen is one of the steps that is necessary for most plants to reproduce. Without pollinators doing this work, many of the foods, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines we use daily wouldn’t be available. You can make a difference by planting native nectar plants for pollinators, reducing pesticide use, and spreading the word!
Paragraph 2
Pollinator gardens provide habitat (host plants, shelter, and food) for pollinators whose natural habitat has been lost due to development and widespread chemical use. These gardens are crucial because they provide a safe environment with plants that flower throughout the year to support and sustain pollinators.
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Hummingbirds are pollinators that play an important role in the food web. The hummingbird is the smallest bird and the only one that can fly backward. It has the fastest heartbeat of any animal, beating up to 1,260 times per minute. Hummingbirds drink twice their weight in nectar daily, and while doing so, they inadvertently carry pollen between many flowers.
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Hummingbird sage attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with its vibrant pink and red flowers and fruity aroma. It is deer resistant and requires minimal summer irrigation. Its abundant nectar-rich flowers make it ideal for attracting hummingbirds.
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California fuchsias are beautiful, robust, and drought tolerant plants that support many types of pollinators. These long-lasting plants thrive in various soils, prefer full sun, and require minimal water once established. California fuchsias are an excellent native nectar source for pollinators.
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Monarchs are valued as symbols of nature in gardens across the United States. Monarch population numbers are extremely low, and the species is facing the threat of extinction. Monarch population decline is largely due to pesticides, development, disease, and climate change. Everyone can contribute to the conservation of this charismatic species by planting native milkweeds and nectar plants and by reducing pesticide use.
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Milkweed plants are essential for the survival of monarch butterflies because the adults only lay their eggs on milkweed and monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed. Without milkweed, a monarch cannot complete its life cycle. There are over a dozen species of milkweed native to California, and a few of those species are native to this area of California.