Pollinator Protectors

The people at Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch are honoring military veterans with a new display on the Pollinator Portal, visible from North Jefferson Street. While grateful to the country’s veterans for all they have done to preserve American freedom, the Butterflies and Blooms folk say they also are grateful for the U.S. military taking on the task of preserving pollinator habitats on their 11-million acres of land nationwide. This includes adding native flowering plants, preserving known and potential pollinator nesting and overwintering sites, and eliminating the use of pesticides. While this is a serious and scientific mission on the part of the military, local butterfly habitat aficionados also appreciate it naming some aircraft (Wasp, Hornet, Hummingbird) and one of its units (Seabees) after pollinators. To learn more about the military’s pollinator efforts and honor veterans, Eatonton and Putnam County residents are invited to visit the special display until Nov. 20, to record the names of veterans they know or miss on the nearby signboard. SUSAN LARSON/Contributed