As part of Pollinator Week, Pine Hills Branch of Albany Public Library hosted a visit from two Master Gardeners on Thursday, June 24th. Master Gardeners Lenora Duggan and Barbara Agneta from Cornell Cooperative Extension came to chat with the community about the restored “Monarch Waystation” at the Pine Hills Branch. A “monarch waystation” is an intentionally-managed garden that provides food and habitat for the struggling Monarch butterfly population.
Did you know that Pine Hills Library became a certified Monarch Waystation back in 2013? The garden here was precisely planned and planted to meet the specific guidelines of the Monarch Waystation program, including at least six hours of sun, well drained soil, wind shelter, and most importantly a habitat for larvae and the adult butterfly. No pesticides allowed either! This garden has had a long history at the Pine Hills Branch. The gardeners from Cornell Cooperative Extension are excited to revive the beauty of a Monarch Waystation here in our community, to create a habitat and resting place for butterflies and other pollinators.
Albany County is a “pollinator friendly municipality”. Pollinators are essential for our environment and our economy, and face imminent threats from the loss of habitat, climate change, and pesticides. Pollinators contribute substantially to the State’s environment and economy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pollinators provide approximately $344 million worth of pollination services to New York and add $29 billion in value to crop production nationally each year! New York’s ability to produce crops such as apples, grapes, cherries, strawberries, pumpkins, and squash relies heavily on the presence of pollinators. Since 2019, Albany County has been taking action to establish pollinator-friendly practices. The birds and the bees need all of our help, too!
