Thank You, Coldstream Muni

A big thank you to Coldstream Municipality for caring about the little things.
The little things that are ultimately so important in the scheme of things.

What is it?

I had asked the municipality to have Roads Supervisor Mike Pethick inform their roadside mowing contractor of an important plant growing on Buchanan Road.
A plant so important--despite its lowly name, Milkweed--that I simply couldn't stand the thought of its near-blooms being mowed as part of Coldstream's maintenance program.

The real plus is that along straight stretches of Buchanan Road--where visibility isn't an issue--and few driveways exist, the sporadic stands of Milkweed really could be saved.

A May 20th blog entry includes photos of the Milkweed stands.

Imagine my delight and pleasure today as I drove along Buchanan Road and saw the Milkweed stands protected!

(Click on photos to enlarge)
Before and after mowing photos follow:

May 20th, prior to roadside mowing

June 17th, after roadside mowing

But there's a surprise!

The June issue of Okanagan Life magazine, read today, has on page 10 and 11 an article entitled "Bee helpful"...

It features a story by the co-founder of Border Free Bees that details how she and other academics at OUC and Emily Carr University and Simon Fraser University are "spearheading aid for endangered pollinators".  As it turns out, their projects include planting Milkweed to help Mason bees, an endangered species.

School children have grown Milkweed from seed and planted the seedlings!
Their website is chock full of projects, including how to build Mason Bee homes.

So people aren't simply helping Monarch Butterflies, we're aiding Mason bees too!

Here are some more photos of plants that butterflies and bees love, including those around the patio at Highlands Golf:

Monarda (also known as Bee Balm)

Milkweed, ready to bloom on Buchanan Road, saved from the mower's blades, thanks to Coldstream municipality!

Monarch butterfly on Lavender at the Highlands Golf clubhouse

Hold still for the photo, Mr. Bee!  flitting around the Lavender

More pollinator-loving flowers at the Highlands Golf clubhouse...almost hidden in the middle is the little pond.

The orange flowers in the last photo are Asclepias (another member of the Milkweed) family, particularly loved by butterflies and bees.
 

"A tip o' the appreciation hat to Mike Pethick's roadside mowing contractor for the District of Coldstream," smiles Kia.

Little things do mean a lot.