Earth Day 2022 is around the corner and, for the third year in a row, we’re proud to support EARTHDAY.ORG’s Protect Our Species campaign to help the pollinators and creatures that keep our ecosystems thriving. To do so, we’re raising awareness about the importance of protecting essential insects like bees, butterflies, and dragonflies.
While we’ve previously shared how to build your own butterfly garden by planting jasmine, lavender, and native milkweed and wildflowers, this year we want to shine a light on how you can create the ultimate sanctuary for dazzling dragonflies.
Why Help?
Firstly, due to declining ecosystems, insects such as the Hines’s emerald dragonfly are on the U.S. List of Endangered Species. Their habitat is declining and the long maturation process makes it difficult for them to thrive. It's important that we raise awarness before it's too late.
Secondly, dragonflies can make your garden a better place. One dragonfly can eat up to 100 mosquitos a day, which can help keep these pests at bay for you and your family. They also eat flies, termites, and ants, all of which can have disastrous effects on not only your garden but your home too.
Finally, we owe them a helping hand. Dragonflies have been around for 300 million years but are currently facing man-made threats like habitat loss, pesticide use, and pollution. Anything we can do to help this important species survive in a world they’ve lived in for so long gets a tick in our books!
Where to Start
Begin with a water source. Water is the easiest way to attract dragonflies to your yard because this is where they lay their eggs. If you’re lucky enough to have a creek or pond on your property, this can be a great feature to build your garden around. If you don’t have a natural source available, consider adding a water fixture.
Next, add plants! Fanwort, a plant that grows fully submerged in water, is a favorite amongst dragonflies as females leave their eggs on its stems and undersides. Floating plants can be another great addition because they give adult insects a place to rest and bask in the sun. As always, it’s important to check what plants are native to your area; this will give you the best chance of growing success and help make sure you don’t cause damage to the local wildlife.
An Important Note
Dragonflies have been known to eat other pollinators like butterflies and bees. Therefore, it may be worth focusing on one pollinator to help in your garden, placing dragonfly-attracting elements away from those bees and butterflies are drawn to, or, if you have plenty of land, creating separate spaces.
And Another Thing…
If you can’t build a dragonfly garden this spring, you can still help by spreading the word with CLEAN RESERVE Skin! For a limited time only, this fan favorite comes in a beautiful dragonfly bottle and packaging to remind you and others to protect this precious species. Additionally, you can share your efforts on social media with the hashtag #FlutterForChange or #FlutterForLife to encourage your family and friends to do the same.
