Although there was a minimal amount of rain this winter, there was enough to have the wildflowers bloom. Because we did so much planting and mulching in the Garden area, those flowers bloomed as well. Our flowers serve three purposes. In both the Nature Center and the Garden, they provide food for our residents. The bees, wasps, hoverflies and other insects are attracted by the seeds, leaves, nectar, pollen and other bugs that like the flowers. These second thing that the flowers do is attract insects and birds that will pollinate our plants and are predator creatures that keep the "bad" bugs in check. Are there any "bad" bugs? Not really! Everything needs to eat and if there were no bugs for our birds, wasps and lizards to eat, they would starve! The third thing? Why, they are just plain beautiful! Vegetable gardens are often not the most beautiful things as the produce ripens. Having flowers is a distraction from those brown leaves, dried stems and eaten up greenery!
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Kathleen IrvineCertified Horticulturist, Artist, Teacher Categories
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