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“It was really exciting,” said Wassenaar.
        “We started with zero species on this
        asphalt parkway and now we can start
        counting what kinds of animals we attract.”
        Animals included hummingbirds, which
        had not been seen in the area before.
           The larger garden beautifies the
        community and provides pollinators with
        more habitat and essential sources of food.
        Besides the Blue Island Public Library,
        Communities & Nature partners include
        public libraries in Brookfield, Berwyn,
        Evergreen Park, La Grange, Lansing,
        Maywood, Melrose Park, Morton Grove,
        Orland Park, and Riverside. The initiative
        is expanding to include even more libraries
        and organizations, said Copeland.


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        Pollination
            o
        St  a  t i o n s
        Stations
        The Communities & Nature initiative has
        two parts, or tiers. The Pollination Station
        Network is part of a global conservation
        movement that aims to halt and reverse
        the alarming decline in the numbers of
        pollinators caused by habitat loss, pesticide
        use, and other factors.
                                                “We use the garden to showcase
           Pollinators—including bees, moths,   what people can do to reduce the effects   Naturally Naturally
        butterflies, bats, and birds—are essential
                                                                                  Neighbors
        to life. As they move from plant to plant   of climate change,” said Wassenaar. For    N e i g h b o r s
        feeding on nectar and pollen, their bodies   example, a tree was planted to demonstrate
        pick up and deposit pollen, which results   that planting trees can lower energy usage   Naturally Neighbors, the other tier of
        in pollination. According to the U.S.   and costs.                        Communities & Nature, offers hands-on
        Forest Service, more than 150 fruit and    “Because of Communities & Nature,   workshops that engage children in conser-
        grain crops grown in the U.S. depend    we’ve added native plants to our seed library  vation learning in their own communities.
        on pollinators.                      and encourage people to plant native    The workshops are developed and
           Pollinator-garden plants are specially   plants in their own yards,” said Wassenaar.    facilitated by Copeland and his staff.
        selected to provide pollinators with   The library maintains a library of seeds    “Engaging in a workshop helps them
        habitat and nourishment. These gardens   that people can take home to plant.  understand their connections with nature
        support the Chicago Zoological Society’s   Brookfield Zoo staff have created
        conservation mission and contribute to   attractive signage for display in the gardens
        the Illinois Monarch Project’s habitat   to educate visitors about plants and
        restoration and conservation efforts.   pollinators and their role in ecosystems.
           The gardens are great places to conduct
        environmental education. “Through pro-
        gramming involving the garden, members
        of the community can participate in
        citizen-science experiments and nature
        observation,” said Wassenaar.




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