Love all plants, even weeds

Spring is here at last. Even though I am writing this as snow falls outside my window, the warm days and sunshine are here. It is time for plants to grow, snow to melt (hopefully) and plenty of puddles to form for the glorious sport that is puddle jumping (yes, I still jump in puddles as an adult, it is literally the greatest thing ever).

As the weather warms up, I have been outside walking (and puddle jumping) more and more. The thing that I really am looking forward to is the growth of local prairie and pollinator plants.

Have you ever noticed the flowers that grow in between some of the buildings at CSB? Specifically, I am thinking of the plot by the mall, between the BAC and the HCC.

That plot is specifically dedicated to growing important and beautiful pollinator plants such as coneflowers.

These pollinator gardens are wonderful creations, designed to support our vital pollinators such as butterflies, bees and more. Not only do they bring beauty but they also provide a safe location for pollinators to refuel.

One of the dangers pollinators face is unreliable sources of food and safety. This comes from the destruction of native pollinator plants and the use of pesticides and weed killers that can damage a pollinator species.

Keep in mind, lots of pollinator plants are technically “weeds”: milkweed, butterfly weed, wild violet, dandelion and more are all often destroyed because of this weed classification. This destruction causes harm to our pollinators, which damages our ecosystem as a whole.

So, what can we do about it?

Number one: find the beauty in all plants, please.

Gardeners have been trained to hate weeds as a whole because of the chaos they can cause to well-tended gardens, but weeds are also our friends.

If you have a garden at home, consider transitioning one section of the garden into a pollinator area. Plant some vital, local pollinator plants such as coneflowers and milkweed, wild violet and more.

The “wildness” that this part of the garden takes on is just as beautiful as a well-manicured garden.

Second, get outside and learn more about your native plants and pollinators! Being able to identify these plants and animals around you is not only a wonderful way to wow your family and friends but can also help support and cultivate an appreciation for these vital organisms.

A wonderful source that you can follow is the OutdoorU’s lists of plants, animals and organisms found in the SJU Arboretum and area around it. Take a hike and learn a little!