ST. GEORGE — St. George resident Colleen Winters transformed her yard into a pollinator paradise, alive with vibrant native blooms, with some help from a state program that was recently made permanent.
"It's one of the easiest ways to do good for the world, especially the wild world," she said, adding that the program is "the greatest thing since sliced bread. … It doesn't cost any more than a traditional garden. So why not?"
The Utah Pollinator Habitat Program is a state program that allows Utah landowners to apply for habitat kits containing native plant species specifically selected for their region. Among the program's aims is to increase pollinator habitat, as "pollinators play a vital role in our agricultural industry, local economies, and overall health of our ecosystems," the website states.
"Unfortunately, many pollinator populations have experienced drastic declines in recent years," according to the website. "Population loss can be linked to several contributing factors including loss of habitat, changing climate and associated weather patterns, disease and pesticide use."
