Our program featured Bethlehem Morning Star Rotarian Rick Morrissey who is a member of the District 7430 Environmental Sustainability Team. His presentation focused on the importance of native plants.
The ever-increasing land development in our area leads directly to numerous new landscaping projects. The problem is that many people select plants that look great but are not native to our area. Often these plants are not suitable for supporting our local ecosystem. The Penn State Extension has produced a Lehigh Valley Native Plant Directory to help people choose proper plants.
Our food production is tied directly to the insects in the region. Those insects are looking to find native plants on which to feed. Healthy insects will pollinate the crops and allow us to produce food. Approximately 1/3 of our food is pollinated by bees. We have created somewhat of a war on insects. True, we do not want them infesting our homes but we want to support their ability to live outdoors. If insecticides must be used they should be used sparingly and only directly on the intended targets. Do not spray indiscriminately as you will affect many useful insects.
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