In spite of the many pollinator gardens along the MRG and the heavenly scent of the blooming milkweed , pollinator sightings have been minimal: Cabbage moths, a few bees and butterflies . . .and right now, long-horned Red Milkweed Beetles. Those can be found on the common milkweed growing at the intersection of High/Mascom/Mechanic streets MRG Pollinator Garden. Their red and black bodies are easily seen on the bright green leaves – no need for camouflage since predators quickly learn the beetles are toxic from the milkweed sap they eat. You may even see them rubbing their mouths on leaves to prevent sap build-up which can actually fuse their mouths if it hardens. Seeing one on a purple coneflower makes me wonder if flowers other than milkweed make better napkins?!
The Mascoma River Greenway 
i am stunned by the lack of polinators this year. for example the spring flowers on my lawn that are usuallly covered with bees were empty. And only an occasional wasp. will my tomatoes get polinated?
Hi Amelia, I am remembering my post last year on July 25th when pollinators had finally returned . . . maybe we will see more in the coming week? https://mascomagreenway.com/2022/07/22/pollinators/. In the meantime, you might want to get out a clean paintbrush or toothbrush and prepare to be a pollinator yourself?! https://www.google.com/search?q=pollinating+tomatoes+with+paintbrush&oq=pollinating+tomatoes+with+paintbrush&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCggCEAAYhgMYigUyCggDEAAYhgMYigUyCggEEAAYhgMYigUyCggFEAAYhgMYigUyCggGEAAYhgMYigXSAQ0xMTgyMTEzMWowajE1qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_xSesZOayBIXaptQP88O06Ac_31
thanks. the old paintbrush ploy!
I think i spotted the hummingbird last week and now the beebalm is blooming furiously.
Thank you so much for this information. I love the pollinator gardens. Yesterday I watched while a white-with-fuchsia-colored- striped spider caught and stung a fly atop a shasta daisy… fascinating. On my return trip, both spider and fly were gone.