Clarksville Now publishes opinion pieces representing both sides of a variety of topics. Opinions presented do not necessarily reflect those of the newsroom or management. To join the conversation, email your opinion piece to news@clarksvillenow.com.
Contributed commentary Michelle Rogers.
Are you looking for a great reason to skip the leaf-blowing, raking, and leaf collection hassle of fall? Or a reason to at least reduce your work? If you love the butterflies, bumblebees and other pollinators of summer, look no further!
Most species of pollinators spend the cold months dormant, resting peacefully in cocoons mixed with leaf litter, wrapped in a leafy tent, or in the dried, hollow stems of plants. Bumblebee queens burrow just an inch or so into the soil beneath leaves that insulate them against the cold. The more leaves from trees and other plants you can keep, as nature would, the more pollinators will awaken in your yard in the spring.
Avoid chopping or mulching leaves (for reasons which are probably apparent now). You can choose to gather leaves into a corner of your garden or rake them under the canopy of the tree where they fell. You can choose how many leaves to remove and how many to keep, and how many pollinators to keep along with them.
For more information on making your yard a haven for butterflies, bees, and native plants, and to register your yard, visit Healthy Yards of Clarksville-Montgomery County. For more information on winter habitat protection, visit Xerces Society online.
Michelle Rogers