Frequently Asked Questions we have heard about No Mow May in Albion, Michigan
Here is a round up of some of the questions we have heard.
We’ll post a few answers now and more questions and answers soon!
- Where to get signs for backyards?
- What groups are there to help with pollinator education?
- Can the City choose to mow or not mow what areas it chooses?
- Is there a sign-up form so the City can track how many participants there are this first year?
- How can we learn about wildflower plantings for the borders of our yards?
- What about mosquitos?
- What about ticks?
- Will this hurt my lawnmower if my grass does get to be 10″ high?
- Is there a local citizen committee looking at environmental issues?
No Mow May Signs
You can download the signs from Bee City USA. They even have the coloring book version: https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may
You can put these signs up on your door, in the back yard or on your social media page.
What groups are there to help with pollinator education?
This page by Penn State Extension dispels common myths about natural landscapes that help pollinators.
Includes info on the Fire Hazard myth, the Vermin myth, the Tick myth, the Mosquitos myth, the Allergy myth, the Messy myth and more!
https://extension.psu.edu/neighborly-natural-landscaping-in-residential-area
Allergy info
This is Ragweed.
It is an invasive species
Ragweed pollen is a common allergen. A single plant may produce about a billion grains of pollen per season,[10][11] and the pollen is transported on the wind. It causes about half of all cases of pollen-associated allergic rhinitis in North America, where ragweeds are most abundant and diverse
Goldenrod is often confused with Ragweed.
This plant attracts bees and other beneficial pollinators.
Goldenrod is in the sunflower family.
Can the City choose to mow or not mow what areas it chooses?
Due to Albion’s former industries, there are a number of properties that the city owned, or used to own, with soil that is best left undistrupted, even by mowing. This works well with the No Mow May resolution to opt to not mow certain areas.
Residents are restricted to letting grass grow in the back yard only and only in May, and only up to the current code of 10″ high. The city might choose to let other areas grow. Some participating cities choose three smaller areas that are not visited much, to let grow.
- Is there a sign-up form so the City can track how many participants there are this first year?
We don’t have this yet, but if you join the Nextdoor.com site, and post that you are participating to one of the threads about No Mow May, we can start an informal count. If you get creative and mow pathways thru the wildflowers in your backyard you can post that photo to NextDoor also. - How can we learn about wildflower plantings for the borders of our yards? To start, visit the Backyard Blog by our own Martha O’Kennon, a local naturalist. http://mokennon.albion.edu/2022/blog%20may%201%202022.htm
We’ll post more info soon and talk with Jolly Green Junction to see if they can help, and maybe later we can have people share their flowers some how. - What about mosquitos?
- What about ticks?
- For those questions, visit the Penn State Extension page listed above.
Ticks
Some ticks also transmit disease.
Ticks are most often found in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. To avoid ticks latching on to you, walk in the middle of trails, wear light-colored clothing, and check your clothing and body for ticks once you come indoors.
While we recommend mowing grass less often to sustain pollinators, keeping the grass in frequently used areas (such as where children or pets play) shorter can help reduce contact with ticks.
Creating a wood chip or gravel strip between your yard and wooded areas limits tick presence in your yard.
Removing leaf litter in frequently used areas also reduces tick habitat. You can learn more in the Tick Management Handbook prepared by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
Excerpt from Bee City USA “Smarter Pest Management: Protecting Pollinators at Home” guideline (page 7)” used with permission.
Advice from Bee City USA: “We recommend maintaining a mowed buffer near your house or in high-traffic areas in tick-heavy areas. Ticks prefer shade, so creating gravel, bark or mulch borders (about 3 feet wide) between sunny lawns and shady forests can reduce their numbers in the grass.
Rodents and deer are carriers, so planting deer-resistant plants and discouraging rodent habitat can also reduce ticks near your home. Replacing lawns with ferns, herbs and other plants can also help.
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What other Michigan Cities are participating in No Mow May or pollinator protection programs?
Ann Arbor Michigan passed a No Mow May Resolution on April 4, 2022.
a2gov.org/NoMowMay
Iron Mountain also has an active pollinator program going on, but they are just being covered in the news, here is a link to that:
https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2022/05/03/boosting-bees-with-beautification-efforts-this-spring/
Learn more about Albion’s Natural Resources including our Parks by visiting the links below.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
On Monday, October 4, 2021 Albion City Council unanimously approved the adaptation of the resolution to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the second Monday of
Albion Clean Up for Earth Day
Round One of the Clean-up was a big success. We’ll be sharing more photos soon. We will meet again at City Hall, Saturday, April 23, at 10 a.m. for Round Two of Albion Clean Up for Earth Day. Much thanks to Friends of Albion’s Animals and Play Right Sports for bringing out teams to tackle key areas.
No Mow May – Albion
On Monday, May 2, Albion Mich City Council unanimously passed a Resolution to support the No Mow May Initiative for 2022.
McIntosh Park Groundbreaking
It was a cold and snowy April day in Albion, but there was much laughter and joy. McIntosh Park had its ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony, on April 18, 2022, even though the ground had clearly been broken and work had begun.
Friends help for Earth Day 2022
Albion Clean Up for Earth Day had about two dozen people come out. The first spot tackled was behind Family Fare. The group that did
Holland Park Pavilion Dedication
Several years ago, a small group of dedicated people in Albion saw a need. There was a public park in Albion that had less than
Thank you to all of our sponsors including these two big sponsors of the Spring Forward Growth Edition of the General Guide for Spring, Summer and Fall 2022
See more of our sponsors of this website, the General Guide, and the Connected Communities by visiting this link: https://albionmich.net/general-guide-sponsors/