As winter grips the Adirondacks, many of us hunker down, embracing the season’s stillness. But beneath the snow and leaf litter, and in the crevices of trees, an essential group of residents is quietly enduring the cold—pollinators. These small but mighty creatures play a crucial role in our ecosystem, ensuring the growth of food crops and maintaining biodiversity.
While some pollinators, like monarch butterflies and ruby-throated hummingbirds, migrate to warmer climates, many others, such as native bees, butterflies, and moths, remain here year-round. Their survival strategies are as diverse as their species: underground nests, tree cavities, cocoons hidden in woody plants, or even rolled-up leaves. As stewards of these vital creatures, we can take steps during the winter to protect their habitats and prepare for their active return in spring.
1. Minimize Salt and Melting Agents
Winter can be tough on pollinators nesting just below the soil surface. Melting agents and salts not only harm plants but can also disrupt the delicate balance of the soil where insects like solitary bees lay their eggs. Opt for eco-friendly snow removal methods, such as sand or gravel, and use salt sparingly. Explore tips from our Don’t Be Salty public outreach campaigns and learn more about AdkAction’s Road Salt Reduction efforts.
2. Embrace Winter’s Rest
Like pollinators, winter offers us a chance to rest and reflect. Take time to consider what worked in your pollinator-friendly landscape this year. Did certain flowers attract more bees or butterflies? Are there native plants you’d like to add? Reflection can lead to inspiration for springtime efforts.
3. Plan Ahead for Spring
Winter is an excellent time to dream and plan. Can you expand your pollinator garden? Start a new community garden project? Advocate for less frequent roadside mowing in your town? AdkAction’s Adirondack Pollinator Project offers resources, from garden planning tips to our annual Pollinator Plant Sale.
4. Try Winter Sowing
Take advantage of the cold months to start your pollinator garden through winter sowing. This simple technique involves planting seeds in repurposed milk jugs and leaving them outside, where natural cold stratification conditions will prepare them to germinate in spring. Our Adirondack Pollinator Project offers a step-by-step guide to winter sowing, making it easy to give native wildflowers a head start while keeping costs low.
5. Create Cozy Winter Homes
Let nature be your guide. Leave fallen leaves and sticks in garden beds; they insulate the soil, protecting overwintering insects. Avoid pruning shrubs or clearing dead plant material until spring. These small actions can make a big difference for pollinators like bumble bee queens or viceroy butterfly caterpillars.
A Winter Vision
As you sip a warm beverage and admire your snow-covered yard, imagine the hidden world below: bees nestled underground, butterflies cocooned in woody plants, and moths snug in the leaf litter. Your stewardship ensures their survival, paving the way for a vibrant spring.
Together, we can help pollinators thrive year-round, ensuring their vital role in the Adirondacks’ ecosystem for generations to come.
