Protecting pollinators

There’s good and bad news about neonicotinoid pesticides during this spring’s plant shopping season. A Vanderbilt study that exposed honey bees to low doses of neonics found that after three days, the bees were sleeping half as long as normal. That’s bad news, because sleep-deprived bees have trouble finding their way back to the hive and may starve and die. 

Neonic-exposed sleep-deprived bees can't navigate

    Bees memorize visual cues for short flights, but when they’re farther from the hive, they navigate by using their circadian clock and their position in relation to the sun. Neonics disrupt bees’ circadian rhythms and throw off this navigation process.

    We seem to be accumulating more and more evidence that these pesticides harm pollinators, but the Environmental Protection Agency still hasn’t made up its mind to ban them or restrict their use, as the European Union has done. A ruling is due this year.

    As I made my plant shopping lists, I had to decide again whether to buy from my favorite garden centers. Could I trust them not to sell neonic-treated plants? I got some good news from two sources. A nearby farm stand with a large garden shop told me that most of their seedlings are started on site, and they don’t use neonics. They’ve switched to biological controls. This opens up a good source for common annuals I buy every year, such as lobelias, marigolds, alyssum, and coleus.

Pollinator-friendly marigolds and Mexican sunflowers, neonic-free

    Jack Russell, the owner of Russell’s Garden Center in nearby Wayland, called back in response to my inquiry about whether plant offerings at Russell’s are neonic-treated. I was relieved to hear his qualified no. Jack said their vegetable plants are neonic-free. For perennials and annuals, he said, they try not to sell anything treated with neonics. 

    The problem for Russell’s and other garden centers is the number of stops plants make on their way to market. Russell’s can certify that their suppliers aren’t using the insecticides, but they can’t be sure that seedlings or seeds weren’t treated before they got to those wholesale producers. Unfortunately, neonics persist for years in plant tissues.

Before planting, I want to be sure native moss phlox doesn't carry poisonous neonics

 
    Some of the suppliers whose plants I buy at places like Russell’s have made a strong commitment not to use neonics. Proven Winners, which produces many of my annuals, has vowed not to treat their plants, although they don’t quite admit that neonics harm bees. Most of the herbs offered at garden centers that I frequent are produced organically at Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens in Connecticut, so I know they’re neonic-free.

 
    In general, edible plants are less likely to be treated than ornamentals. Apparently sellers understand that consumers want pesticide-free food, but they’re slower to grasp how concerned we are about poisoning pollinators.

It's a relief to be able to source neonic-free annuals

    The good news is that the retail market is gradually catching up with ecological gardeners’ preferences regarding neonics. I’m delighted to be able to revisit my favorite plant shopping venues. Now if the EPA issues a ban, we’ll really feel sure that our gardens are safe for pollinators.

Alyssum that's safe for pollinators