Butterfly on a flower

On June 11th, Mayor Jim Ross and the Arlington City Council issued a proclamation to observe June 17-23 as National Pollinator Week.  Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, birds, and bats play an essential role in our environment.

Pollination occurs when pollen is moved in and between flowers of the same species leading to fertilization which produces seeds.  Animals that facilitate pollination are called pollinators and they help create and maintain diverse ecosystems and are vital to our food supply.

The City of Arlington encourages residents to learn about the importance of pollinators in our community and promotes the creation of pollinator habitat on public and private property. Pollinators provide ecosystem services that support wildlife and native plant communities in the following ways:

• Native plant diversity provides food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.
• Pollinator habitat helps remove pollutants from stormwater runoff improving local water quality.
• Diverse plant communities prevent erosion and maintain healthy watersheds.
• Flowering plants help return moisture to the atmosphere which is integral to the water cycle.
• Plants communities utilize carbon dioxide to produce oxygen.

Residents and businesses can help create pollinator habitat by using native plants in landscapes and gardens to provide food, nest and egg laying sites, and protection from predators which will attract native pollinators.  Native plants are drought and pest tolerant which helps reduce pesticide and fertilizer use and conserves water resources. Find out which native plants grow well in our region by visiting www.txsmartscape.com. Residents can also volunteer at local demonstration gardens such as the Southwest Branch Library Pollinator Garden or the Lake Arlington Native Plant and Pollinator Garden by visiting www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/jobs_and_volunteering/volunteer_opportunities/other. Helping city staff maintain these gardens provides an opportunity to learn about the maintenance and care of native plants and their importance as hosts to a variety of local pollinators.