Do you like to look at the pretty flowers and breathe clean air? If you said yes, thank a pollinator.
June 19th-25th is Pollinator Week for 2017. Pollinators are the bees, butterflies, birds, beetles and bats that help pollinate 75% of all flowing plants. The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department actively works to help with the conservation of pollinator species.
*Utilizes Citizens Scientists to help monitor insect, plant and wildlife populations. In the recent “City Nature Challenge”, Citizen Scientists observed and recorded more than 250 insect species in just 4 days. In those same 4 days, in the White Rock Creek watershed alone, 119 species of plants were identified. With that information, managers can monitor and adjust vegetation management practices.
*The Park and Recreation Department has partnered with Texas Discovery Gardens, and volunteer organizations to plant “Pollinator Demonstration Gardens” around the city on park properties. Good examples of the gardens can be seen in Tenison, Everglade, Crawford Memorial, Kiest and RP Brooks Parks. Additionally, there is a great demonstration garden at Dallas City Hall. Over the course of 2017, and additional 10-11 demonstration gardens will be installed or older beds updated. If your group is interested in helping, please contact the Park and Recreation Department.
*Maintains 107 wildflower areas that make up almost 79 acres. That is roughly 79 footfall field of wildflowers spread across Dallas. The Park and Recreation Department is looking at additional areas that can be incorporated into the wildflower areas in the future.
*The Dallas Park and Recreation Department also manages ~200 acres of blackland prairie remnants. This is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the United States. Management includes monitoring for specific species, volunteers removing invasive exotic plant species, rotational mowing, and starting this fall, reseeding areas with poor plant diversity.
*The Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s Urban Biologist is available to help with outreach efforts related to pollinator conservation. He will be participating in the Nature Expo this Saturday, June 24th, at the Dallas Central Library from 10:30-1 PM.
For more information, please see the Dallas Park and Recreation Department Urban Biologist Website for additional information on pollinators and wildlife in Dallas.
