Help pollinators by participating in No Mow May

I came home the other day to find a bumblebee resting on my back door. Ordinarily, I give these guys a wide berth (he was huge), but this fellow seemed very sleepy and slow. I imagine he was trying to decide whether it was warm enough to stay out or head back to the hive and hibernate for another couple of weeks.

The appearance of pollinators brings to mind what is quickly becoming a global springtime initiative. No Mow May began in the United Kingdom a few years ago and is now endorsed by many municipalities and organizations around the world, including many in Canada. In New Brunswick, the City of Fredericton, for one, has been promoting No Mow May (https://engagefredericton.ca/no-mow-may), for several weeks now.

The purpose of No Mow May is to provide an important source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Contrary to popular belief, dandelions are not the enemy! They are often the first source of food for our busy little friends. Dead leaves and branches also provide shelter for many other hibernating insects, who are, in turn, a source of food for robins and other birds.

For our part, we are inviting New Brunswickers to share photos of their lawns or other green spaces on our Facebook and Instagram pages during the month of May. Your name will be entered in a draw for some Recycle NB swag, which will be awarded at the end of the month.

In the meantime, while you’re watching your grass grow, take the opportunity to change out the oil in your mower, and don’t forget to take the used oil and the container to the nearest program return facility for recycling. There are approximately 198 depots in the province that will accept used oil and glycol (antifreeze), as well as old oil filters and containers. The program, operated by UOMA-Atlantic, ensures that these items don’t end up in our landfills or impact the environment.

Happy Recycling everyone and enjoy watching the grass grow!