Pollinator Plot

Pollinators play a big role in keeping our world healthy. About 80% of all flowering plants depend on animals to spread pollen and grow. To help them, the City of Mt. Vernon planted a pollinator plot filled with native grasses and flowers. These plants give food and shelter to bees, butterflies, birds, and many other helpful animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What animals are pollinators?

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are the pollinators most people know best, but they’re not the only ones! Wasps, moths, beetles, and even some bats and reptiles also help move pollen between plants.
Without bats, for example, we wouldn’t have mangoes, bananas, or agave. A special insect called a fig wasp helps almost 1,000 types of fig trees grow, and the yucca moth is the only pollinator that can help yucca plants survive.

What is pollination?

Pollinators visit flowers to find food, like nectar or pollen. As they move from flower to flower, some of the sticky pollen rubs off on new plants.

This simple act helps plants make seeds and grow new life—it’s nature’s way of keeping things blooming!

Why is pollination important?

Pollinators help us in more ways than we might think. About one-third of the food we eat comes from plants that need pollinators. Without them, we wouldn’t have apples, berries, pumpkins, or sunflowers.
Even farm animals depend on pollinators because bees help grow the alfalfa and clover that cows, pigs, and other animals eat.

How can I help?

You can make a big difference right in your own yard or neighborhood. Here are some easy ways to help:

• Plant native plants or flowers to give pollinators food and shelter.
• Leave plant stems, twigs, and leaves in place over the winter so insects have a safe spot to rest.
• Build or buy a bee hotel for a fun family project that helps local bees.
• Use fewer chemicals around your home and yard.

Every small action adds up to a big impact for pollinators—and for all of us who depend on them.

Help Nature Bloom!

Take a peaceful walk through Optimist Park and visit our Pollinator Plot!

See how native plants support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that help our community—and our planet—thrive.