Volunteer-tended pollinator garden at George Langman Wildlife Sanctuary helping to boost biodiversity
NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA FISH AND GAME CONSERVATION CLUB
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Over the last several years a portion of the 60 acres of the George Langman Wildlife Sanctuary has been transformed into a pollinator garden to enhance the property and encourage this aspect of conservation.
This area promotes biodiversity by encouraging birds, honey bees, bumblebees, butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, and bats, to name a few, to thrive. These pollinators are responsible for helping to move pollen from one plant to another. If you have not had a chance to see this area of the sanctuary, spend some time to explore this section of the property.
Pollinators need different colours and shapes of flowers to flourish. For example, bees can see colour and are attracted to blue, purple, yellow and white, whereas hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to brighter colours like red.
Did you know that different bees have different lengths of their tongue to reach pollen in flowers or that bumblebees use motion in some cases to pollinate other flowers or make them available to honey bees?
The use of clusters of coloured flowers has shown to work better to attract pollinators. As these insects and birds fly, they can then see the colours from a distance.
There are 800 native species of bees and approximately 300 types of butterflies that travel through Canada yearly. So much to learn about these little creatures.
The flower gardens are tended by volunteers who are members of the club. The plants chosen were native in to Canada such as wild bergamot, beebalm, black-eyed Susans, wild strawberries, lilies and daisies, to name a few.
At this site we have displayed a plaque that shows you what you can find in this area as you sit contemplating this special area of beauty. Members of the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club have worked hard on the design of this garden for the public to enjoy. The plants chosen are native to this area and have been planted to encourage multiple pollinators. Attractions have been added to this area for your enjoyment (i.e., birdhouses displayed, wooden mushroom carvings and now a wishing well). Tad Kraul and Wayne Bye along with many other members help to maintain and make improvements to the garden.
So, when you are thinking of a place to explore and enjoy for a walk, or take your family to enjoy locally close to Orillia, think of the George Langman Wildlife Sanctuary, where there is something for everyone to enjoy and it is open to the public daily. Address: 2457 Bass Lake Sdrd. E., Oro-Medonte, Ont. The pollinator garden is located to the right of the main parking lot, along the trail, a short distance past the bird display and red work building. There is still time to enjoy the flowers or just to relax and listen to the birds in this site.
I would like to thank Merja Mansau, who provided the photographs for this article.
— Written by Sheilagh Rose
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