By Sarah Dugan, Naturalist, Kroening Nature Center
One of the joys of summertime is the chance to see, and smell, so many flowers in bloom. While many gardens are designed with people in mind, for the plants, it’s pollinators that matter. Many flowers rely on the mobility of pollinators to transfer pollen grains from one flower to another and from one plant to another in order to reproduce. Meanwhile, for the pollinators, the goal is the energy rich nectar in the flowers they visit.
Bees are probably the most well-known, and the most accomplished, pollinators. However, many other species as well as bats, some birds, and even a few lizards are known to help with pollination. Given the diversity of pollinating animals, it’s no surprise that flowers can be as different as an orchid and a rose. Nectar is an important food source for pollinators, but it also takes energy for plants to produce. Flowers have evolved different ways to get the maximum pollination for the least amount of nectar. For instance, some flowers, such as penstemon, have a bell shape that requires pollinators to enter the flower, rubbing pollen grains on their bodies and rubbing off pollen from other flowers, before reaching the nectar inside. Others have long tubes that limit access to nectar to pollinators with long mouth parts such as butterflies. Still others may only open at night, and emit a strong scent to help their pollinating moths find them in the dark.
Composite flowers, such as sunflowers and daisies are pollinated by many species and are an excellent way to attract pollinators to a garden. These flower heads (or ‘inflorescences’) are actually made up of many smaller flowers called florets. The outer ray florets develop colorful, long petals that attract pollinators, but are often sterile and produce no nectar. The inner disk florets, often a contrasting color, are bunched together to allow a pollinator to rest while drinking from, and pollinating, several florets in one visit.
We can also thank the pollinators for the floral scents we enjoy. Bees and flies like sweet smelling blooms as much as people do. Some drab looking flowers have the strongest smells, reaching insects as much as a kilometer away. The next time you stop to smell the roses, or phlox, you can think about the complex relationship that scent represents.
Visit the prairies at North Mississippi Regional Park this month to see how many different blooms you can find, along with the many pollinators that visit them!
July programs at Kroening Nature Center
Bird Watching: Summer Songbirds · Saturday, July 1, 9-10:30 a.m. Free for ages 8+ (activity #139251). Walk with a naturalist to discover birds to look for in the summer. All levels welcome, binoculars provided.
Outdoors: Beneficial Botany Workshop · Saturday, July 8, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free for ages 18+ (activity #139301). Learn about the usefulness of plants! From medicinal to edible to dyes, find out the unique properties of Minnesota plants.
Campfire Game Night · Thursday, July 13, 6-8 p.m. Free for ages 6-17 (activity #139254).Get outside for a night of fun and games in the park! Explore a nature topic, play games in the woods and hang out around the campfire. Children under 12 accompanied by an adult.
Nature Art: Tie Dye · Saturday, April 15, 1-2:30 p.m. $5/person for all ages (activity #139271). Use found materials to create designs and patterns with dyed fabric. Bandana, dye and other materials provided.
New Moon Stargazing · Tuesday July 18, 8:30-9:30 p.m. Free for ages 8+ (activity #141195).Join a naturalist to navigate the night sky. If overcast, join for an evening nature walk.
Hike: Prairie Blooms · Saturday, July 22, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free for ages 8+ (activity #139267). Tour our prairie with a naturalist to see what’s in bloom and learn what makes this ecosystem so beneficial.
Nature Art: Leaf Creations · Thursday, July 27, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free for all ages (activity #139269). Express your creativity and love of nature using leaves and plant materials. All materials included.
Bird Watching: Insect Eaters · Friday, April 29, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Free for ages 8+ (activity #139249). Minnesota can be quite buggy! Come learn about and watch for the insect-eating birds around the park. Binoculars provided if needed.
Nature Date Night · Saturday, April 29, 6-8 p.m. $5/person for ages 18+ (activity #139273). Bring a date out for an evening of fun in nature!