LIVING HERE
If you’ve noticed, more untended lawns than normal that’s because ‘No Mow May’ has begun.
No Mow May is a movement that encourages people to let their lawns grow wild during May. This simple act of not mowing a lawn for one month can have a positive impact on the environment and the local ecosystem, although it may look pretty crummy at times. Flowers commonly seen blooming on lawns in May include dandelions, white clover, and creeping charlie. While many people view these flowers as weeds, some pollinators view them as food.
With 40 million acres, or 2%, of land in the US, dedicated to them, lawns are the largest homegrown and often irrigated plant growth in the US. There are almost 400 million acres of farmland, however. Manicured and watered lawns often offer minimal benefits to wildlife and can even be harmful due to their lack of floral resources and nesting sites for bees, as well as the use of pesticides. In urban and suburban areas, it may be challenging for bees to locate floral resources which is why ‘No Mow May’ can be so important. Everyone in the urban environment can assist the bees in thriving by allowing a lawn, or a portion of it, to grow for a more extended period, letting the flowers blossom, which provides pollinators with nectar and pollen.
While ‘No Mow May’ and ‘Mow Less May’ both are easy ways to help pollinators, by planting a variety of native plants, providing natural nesting sites, reducing pesticide use, and spreading the word about pollinator conservation, everyone might create a more thriving ecosystem that supports not only pollinators but also birds, mammals, and other wildlife.
The Lake Geneva Library and Rotary Club’s Monarch Habitat Garden is open.
Last week the ribbon cutting ceremony made it official. The plans were first presented by the Rotary Club last summer, and just under a year later the garden is ready for all to enjoy. The seeds were planted, the garden fenced off, and the butterflies are showing up. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a great community event, with many residents, city officials, and some of the younger students (wearing butterfly wings) from Central Denison participating in the opening of the garden.
The garden is located on the lakeside of the library so not only can people passing by enjoy the perfect view of the lake they can also enjoy the butterflies fluttering about. The Lake Geneva Rotary Club is very excited to be partnered with the library and working with the Geneva Lake Conservancy, the University of Wisconsin, North Wind Perennial, and Lake Geneva Public Works. The Rotary Club constructed and will maintain the garden. The garden is expected to be a destination for many, and a great learning experience for kids and adults alike. The garden has plants that attract the monarchs, and it also has signage with educational information. This is a wonderful addition to the library, library park, and the lakefront area.
