STERLING - Nature lovers and inspired gardeners learned everything there is to know about pollination and how to start and maintain a pollinated garden at the Sterling Nature Center Saturday.

Native Pollinators, the first event of the spring and summer season, was run by nature center director Jim D'Angelo.

Shirley Ryan, of Auburn, and Bernie Aldrich, of Montezuma, came out to see what they might learn.

“I love nature. I haven't been to the nature center before but it encompasses my interests,” Ryan said.

In his presentation, D'Angelo spoke of ways to keep a more healthier natural garden by attracting native pollinators. D'Angelo gave an overview of the native pollinators in the local area and gave tips on how to attract these beneficial insects to your yard.

The basic premise of pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male to the female plant and is required for fruit and seeds to produce in flowering plants.

“Eighty percent of all crops require an animal pollinator,” D'Angelo said. “Pollinators produce larger more favorable fruit and higher crop yields.”

Without pollination tomatoes, squash, watermelon, apples, blueberries, cucumbers and even chocolate wouldn't be accessible for eating, D'Angelo said.

“People are disconnected from where there food comes from. People are so used to going to a grocery store and picking up what they need. They don't really know much about their food. They can buy strawberries year round and around here they only grow naturally in the spring,” D'Angelo said.

Bees are the most important pollinators. There are 4,000 different species of bees in North America and 47 different species of bumblebees.

Bees use the pollen gained from plants and flowers for nutrients and food. Usually they feed this to their brood which will eventually hatch into an adult bee. Bees also use the nectar to keep up their energy.

“If you want pollination in your yard use bees,” D'Angelo said. “Native bees are the best to use because they fly only about 200 yards for food so they will pollinate your garden more.”

Different animal pollinators include bats, lemurs, slugs, flies, beetles, lizards, bush babies and hummingbirds. Wind is a natural pollinator and helps specifically with the production of corn.

“Cross-pollination occurs when pollen from one plant lands on the silks of another plant. Gaps in corn occur when not every single kernel of corn is pollinated,” D'Angelo said.

In this area, the ruby-throated hummingbird is a significant pollinator attracted to red, orange and yellow flowers as well as lilac bushes.

D'Angelo recommends using plants and flowers that are native to New York state and naturally attract pollinators such as the 12 varieties of milkweed, 26 varieties of goldenrod and 212 varieties of aster are available locally.

The landscape of a garden is another important factor because to get the most benefit of natural pollinators the entire garden should be used for pollinating purposes.

A technique called clumping is crucial. Plant same color flowers in a large cluster about 4 feet apart, which helps insects to better pollinate since they naturally see colors in clumps.

D'Angelo also stressed the importance of diversity in a garden. “You should have things in bloom throughout the season since many bee and butterfly species fly at different times of the year,” he said.

D'Angelo also recommended avoiding the use of pesticides but gave tips on how to best use them.

Use pesticides when plants are not in bloom, when pollinators are not active but when the pest you are targeting is active and use a pesticide that is specific to that particular pest.

“All of our actions big or small can be detrimental to nature,” D'Angelo said.