For the Love of Utah's Pollinators

 

Monarch butterfly foraging on Showy Milkweed. Photo by Klaus Bielefeldt.

Rainy days that fade into cool evenings? We’ll take it after the scorcher of a summer we’ve had! The brutal heat didn’t do much to stop our amazing community of pollinator volunteers, though, and we saw an incredible 1,939 observations logged with Utah Pollinator Pursuit on iNaturalist last month!

Whether you've logged one or a hundred observations - thank you! Your contributions make positive outcomes for pollinators possible. As the seasons change, the ways that we can show up for pollinators shifts as well, and we're excited to share some great ways to get involved this fall!

Upcoming Planting Opportunities

UPHP plant kits being prepped for pickup at the Logan Distribution Center.
Photo: Becky Yeager

Sageland Collaborative and our partners have been awarded native pollinator plants through the Utah Pollinator Habitat Program, and we need YOUR help to get thousands of native seedlings into the ground! Sign up to join us at one of our upcoming planting days:

Thank you to all of the volunteers and non-profit, university, and agency partners who dedicate their time to pollinator conservation and habitat restoration.

Utah Lake Wetland Restoration

Volunteers will be planting wetland sod mats (top) and Hardstem bulrush (bottom) in Utah Lake.
Photos: Blake Wellard

Botanist Blake Wellard is seeking volunteers to support with experimental plantings to restore wetland habitat at Utah Lake.

When/Where:

  • Friday - Sunday, September 27, 28, & 29, 9am-3pm*

  • Saturday - Sunday, October 12 & 13, 9am-3pm*

Volunteers will meet at the Wetland Nursery (Google Map Link Here) at 9am. Plan to dress for the weather, and wear fast dry clothes or hip waders, and shoes/sandals that can get wet.

What to Bring:

  • Plenty of water & snacks

  • Work gloves

  • Shovel & rubber mallet if you have them

This volunteer activity is not hosted by Sageland Collaborative. Please contact Blake with any questions or to signup.

*Volunteers are not required to commit to the entire day.

Free Milkweed Seeds!

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) seeds ready to be dispersed by the wind. Photo: Sierra Hastings

Friends of Monarchs has opened up their 2024 Seed Request Form, where Utah residents can request up to three species of native milkweed seeds - for FREE!

Milkweed is the only food that monarch caterpillars can eat, so planting healthy, native milkweed is one of the best things we can individually do to sustain populations of monarch butterflies. Milkweed flowers also provide valuable nectar for other visiting pollinators - from moths to bumble bees to wasps. Be sure to plant a variety of native floral resources for the adult butterflies as well!

Seeking Program Feedback

Pollinator Office Hours attendees admiring, of course, a native bee. Photo: Sierra Hastings

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to our Pollinator Office Hours throughout the summer! It was such a joy to spend time appreciating our natural spaces and spreading the love of pollinators with our community.

As we plan for 2025, we would love to know if there's anything we could do to make these programs better! Please feel free to reach out with any feedback or suggestions to Sierra at sierra@sagelandcollaborative.org.

Thank You

Your contributions help us to inform best management practices for pollinators and the habitats they need to survive - thank you!

Not able to join us in the field this year? Please consider supporting this work through donating, sharing on social media or by passing this email along to family and friends who may be interested!

Please don't hesitate to email us at mary@sagelandcollaborative.org with any questions.

 
Sierra Hastings