The Christian County Master Gardeners Association is set to highlight the vital role of native plants at their Garden and Outdoor Living Expo next weekend.
Association member Toni Riley appeared on WHOP News and shared that they have taken on an initiative called Backyard Ecology which encourages the growth of native plants which attract native pollinating insects.
Honey Bees are among the most well-known pollinators, but they are not native to Kentucky and do not pollinate all plants. Riley says native pollinators play a key role in pollinating food being grown across the state.
Riley says Kentucky is home to around 200 native bees, but their populations are declining because their habitat is shrinking and planting more native plants could provide more habitation areas for them.
Some of the native plants available at the expo will include, Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Clustered Mountain Mints, Black-eyed Susans, Wrinkleleaf Goldenrods, Calico Asters and Swamp Sunflowers.
The expo is set for April 11 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and April 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Christian County Cooperative Extension Expo Center.
