By: Marikay Shellman, BPW Colorado Virtual Past Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024) 

It has been my great pleasure to write articles for my fellow BPW members about the perils

 of pollinators and the actions (or non-actions) that we can take to give a helpful hand to our pollinators.  I have gained great knowledge in doing research for these articles which I will continue to use on my property.   

One of my many challenges has been to reduce my lawn from the large playground area I had when my children were young and had many friends over to run around.  Over the years I have slowly reduced the size of my huge lawn by taking out grass and adding raised garden beds and hedge rows.  This year I am taking it a step farther and leaving areas not mowed.  It actually looks pretty good.  I’ll see what happens as the summer progresses.  Just the other day my grandson and I noticed birds hanging out on some of the tall grass eating the seeds, a hopeful sight.  We also saw Monarch caterpillars on the milkweed last year. 

On another note, the Washington Post recently wrote an article on Fireflies, interviewing both Candice Fallon, Xerces Society, who presented to BPW ESD Earth Day 2023, and me.  Just this week Dr Schwarz, Fort Lewis College, has interest in studying the fireflies on my ranch. 

I greatly appreciate all the interest and support BPW has given me during my tenure as NFBPWC ESD Chair.  And for allowing me to write of my passion for pollinators.