HRI Launches “Grow Wise, Bee Smart” Website

Jennifer Zurko

The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), the research affiliate of AmericanHort, announced the launch of the Grow Wise, Bee Smart website—growwise.org. This resource is a key component of the horticultural industry’s Bee and Pollinator Stewardship Initiative, which was created to provide leadership and guidance to the industry on pollinator health. The site serves as the communications hub for the latest research and developments related to the role horticulture plays in supporting pollinator health.

Grow Wise, Bee Smart currently features information on the importance of bees and pollinators, threats to their health and steps everyone can take to improve habitat and forage. Links to the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge and Pollinator Partnership further guide retail and landscape firms and their customers on how to plant and register new gardens and habitats for pollinators.

As the Grow Wise, Bee Smart stewardship program for plant production is launched, and as funded and directed research yields results and guidance, the site will feature timely new information and insights.

Great progress is being made on all fronts. HRI has directly funded five related research projects totaling $160,100. AmericanHort and HRI helped to secure another $272,000 for a priority project that received special Farm Bill funding. A grower and scientist task force has developed key components for the stewardship program. And AmericanHort was one of eight founding partners of the National Pollinator Garden Network, which in early June launched the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge.

“Horticulture, the health of pollinators, and the success of our industry are intertwined,” said Harvey Cotten, past president of HRI and a leader in the Bee and Pollinator Stewardship Initiative. “We are the original green industry and our plants and expertise can make a difference for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.”

In other pollinator news, America in Bloom (AIB) and National Garden Bureau (NGB) announced America in Bloom has become a partner in the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. The MPGC is an initiative of the National Pollinator Garden Network, of which America in Bloom is a partner.

Diane Blazek, NGB executive director, said, “National Garden Bureau continues to partner with outstanding organizations to help plant 1 million new pollinator gardens by the end of 2016. What makes the partnership with America in Bloom so special is that by reaching out to communities that participate in the America in Bloom national awards program, we are really reaching hundreds of thousands of individual residents; every one of them can make an impact on the lives of pollinators.”

Evelyn Alemanni, AIB board member, stated that via a donation from NGB, every attendee at the America in Bloom symposium and awards program in Holland, Michigan, will receive a seed collection so they can do their part to create more pollinator gardens across America. The program takes place on September 24-26.

More information about ways to nurture pollinators is at millionpollinatorgardens.org. GT