July 25, 2024
Planting a Pollinator-friendly Garden
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are all pollinators, and without them our world would be very different – as much as 3/4 of our food exists because of their efforts! And now more than ever, our pollinator friends could use a hand in return. This can be as easy as potting up a few containers or scattering wildflower seeds in an unused section of your yard. Whatever the scale of your garden, you can make a big difference for all our pollinating friends!
Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden
Single blooms typically have more nectar and offer easy access to pollinators.
Heirloom, wildflower, and native plant species have higher nectar yields than newer hybrids.
Avoid using pesticides and insecticides! Instead, rely on beneficial insects like spiders, ladybugs, and dragonflies – that last one easts hundreds of mosquitoes a day, by the way!
Plant a diverse garden with a good range of colours, cultivars, and flowering times. Pollinators feed on a range of plants and need flowers from spring to fall.
Add a shallow water bowl, partly filled with stones, to give your pollinators a safe place to drink.
Butterflies
Butterflies are attracted by scent, so planting a wide variety of aromatic flowering plants that can provide food throughout the warm seasons is incredibly beneficial. Go for a wide variety of perennials to provide these fluttering friends with food throughout the warm seasons, including Lavender (Lavandula), Butterfly Bush (Buddleia), Russian Sage (Perovskia), Creeping Thyme (Thymus), and Catmint (Nepeta).
You can even plant a “nursery” garden for Monarch butterflies! Asclepias (Butterfly Weed, Milkweed) is the host plant for Monarchs to lay their eggs, and the food source for caterpillars before they begin the transition to their adult forms. It’s fascinating to watch your own “Very Hungry Caterpillars” munch, grow, and thrive in your own yard!
Hummingbirds
You can easily add a hummingbird feeder filled with delicious “nectar” to your outdoor spaces (remember to switch out the food and wash it regularly). They are habitual feeders, meaning that they have a “route” of reliable food sources to visit year after year – it takes a lot of energy to flap their tiny wings so fast, and they can’t afford to waste energy looking for their next meal!
They love the colour red, and need tube-shaped blooms that fit their unique beaks. Beebalm (Monarda) is a perfect fit for them, as is Plantain Lily (Hosta), Beardtongue (Penstemon), Honeysuckle Vine (Lonicera), and Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa).
Bees
Lucky for us, bees are mostly interested in flowers – bright, beautiful flowers! Most blooms are on the menu for them, though their favourites colours are purple (blue), white, and yellow. Mass plantings are easiest for bees to find, but variety is also good to feed a wider range of bee species. Coneflower (Echinacea), Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan), Salvia (Perennial Sage), Sedum (Stonecrop), Agastache (Anise-Hyssop), and Achillea (Yarrow) are all fantastic options for feeding our buzzing friends, not to mention all the annual varieties that are available in the spring!
Vegetable gardens are also great for pollinators, and attracting bees can really increase your yields. You’ll also need them to cross-pollinate your raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries – all the berries!
Stingers get a bad rap
If you or your loved ones are allergic to bee stings, then of course you’ll need to be extra careful. But bees typically sting only when threatened and as a last means of defense. Go slowly through your gardens, watch where you’re grabbing when deadheading and pruning, let them feed in peace, and teach any young ones to observe them from afar. If you leave the bees alone, they will leave you alone and everybody should get along just fine.
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