Pollinator Month in Boulder

“It doesn’t do us one ounce of good to plant flowers and then poison them when our friends the pollinators arrive there.”

The City of Boulder has designated the month of September to be pollinator month. Beth Conrey, the president of both the Colorado Beekeepers’ Association and the Western Apicultural Society says it’s a tough time for bees “bees are under tremendous amount of scrutiny as to pollinator health in general, across the country, as well as in the state of Colorado and in the local community.”

Recent statistics showing up to 40% of honey bee colonies collapsing prompted President Obama to launch a federal strategy for pollinator protection to come up with some goals to assist pollinators. Restoration of monarch populations, increasing forage available on public lands and decrease honey-bee losses nationwide to 15% in 7-10 years.

Conrey says that there also needs to be a focus on reducing pesticide use”it doesn’t do us one ounce of good to plant flowers and then poison them when our friends the pollinators arrive there.” Conrey says that the Colorado Beekeepers’ Association is working to educate the public on the need to increase forage plants and decrease pesticide use.

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To celebrate pollinator month, the City of Boulder is hosting the Bee Boulder Festival Saturday September 26th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Civic Area. There will be live entertainment, speakers, and activities to learn about the importance of pollinators in the community.