Do you like to look at the pretty flowers and breathe clean air? If you said yes, thank a pollinator!
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 flowering 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 install or older
beds updated. If your group is
interesting 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 wildflower 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.
