By Sarina Rattler

The cicada song seems nearly constant now, the afternoon storms are regular, and the humidity feels oppressive, but we will make it through summer! When the road seems long, it helps to stop and appreciate the small things — in this case, that’s the pollinators. Two great events are coming up to celebrate pollinators, enjoy local parks and contribute to larger citizen science projects. The Great Southeast Pollinator Census on Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24, and the Parks for Pollinator Bioblitz throughout the month of September. Information for both projects can be found online, and Hurley Park is an excellent spot for making observations. As these events approach, we will share more details through the Hurley Park Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Pollinators include bees, flies, wasps, butterflies, beetles, moths and hummingbirds. To attract the pollinators you desire, ensure you provide a diverse buffet of choices. Just as people wouldn’t frequent a restaurant that only served spaghetti, pollinators appreciate variety. Including plants with different foliage colors, flower colors, heights and blossom sizes ensures a range of pollinators benefit from your garden.

Despite their bad reputation, paper wasps play a crucial role in pollination and pest control by preying on caterpillars to feed their young. The blue-winged wasp, my personal favorite, burrows into the soil and lays eggs on grubs, such as Japanese beetles. As the larvae grow, they consume the grub. Among bees, there is great diversity in nesting habits; 70 percent nest in the soil, while the rest use wood, stems or cavities. More than 90 percent of bees in North America are solitary, focused on their own needs and unlikely to sting. Pollinators are vital to our ecosystem. Learning fun facts about them can help ease any tensions and is a great way to appreciate their importance.

You can find pollinators in any section of Hurley Park, but the best bet for locating them are the sunnier areas. These areas are warmer, and many of the flowering plants grow best there. when we’re ready to hide indoors in the sunny afternoons, the bees and other pollinators are most active during those times. For instance, carpenter bees are often spotted in the afternoon at Priscilla’s Fragrance Garden, where the abundance of passionflowers keeps them satisfied. This flower evolved to be specifically pollinated by the bigger-than-average carpenter bee. You’ll also likely see tHe blue-winged wasp on the mountain mint flowers.

From spring until the first frost, something appealing to pollinators will be blooming in the Lib and Ed Taylor Garden. Black-eyed Susans are making a splash of color and buzzing with life. Many of the native bees and wasps enjoy these flowers, along with the skippers and larger butterflies. This garden also hosts “Miss Huff” lantana, which is very popular with the hummingbirds and the day-flying hummingbird clearwing moths. Along the trailside, catmint “blue wonder” is a favorite of the bumblebees. All three plants are excellent choices for extended blooms in a sunny garden.

For updates about Hurley Park, follow us on Facebook or Instagram @HurleyParkNC. You can also donate to Hurley Park by visiting our website at salisburync.gov/hurleypark. If you have any additional questions or would like to book the park for an event, please give us a call at 704-638-5298.

Sarina Rattler is public garden supervisor for Salisbury Parks and Recreation.