Overview of Pollinator Gardens

A pollinator garden is a special kind of garden that provides food and habitat for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other insects. Pollinator gardens can be any size and planted with a variety of flowers, herbs and shrubs that are attractive to pollinators. It’s important to choose native plants since they will provide the best habitat and nutrition for pollinators in your area – you can check with your local gardening center or extension service for recommendations on what to plant in your area.

Steps to Create a Pollinator Garden

1. Choose pollinator-friendly plants that are native to your area.

2. Create a diverse mix of pollinator-friendly plants, including both blooming and non-blooming varieties.

3. Make sure the pollinator garden is in an area with full sun or partial shade, depending on the type of pollinators you’re trying to attract.

4. Plant a variety of flower colors to attract different pollinators and ensure pollination throughout the season.

5. Provide water sources such as birdbaths or shallow dishes for pollinators to drink from and cool off in during hot days.

6. Avoid using pesticides or chemical fertilizers, as these can be harmful to pollinators.

Benefits of Pollinator Gardens

Planting a pollinator garden is a great way to help pollinators and support local ecosystems. Not only will pollinator gardens provide habitat and food for pollinators, but they can also serve as educational tools for children, families and communities. Additionally, pollinator gardens are beautiful places that create a pleasant environment – people can enjoy the sight of butterflies, bees and other pollinators buzzing around their yard!

Pollinator Plants

There are many flowering plants that are well-suited for attracting pollinators to your garden. Some popular options include:

Aster

These flowers come in a variety of colors and bloom in late summer and fall, providing a valuable food source for pollinators as other flowers start to fade.

Aster is a good pollinator plant for several reasons. First, it produces a large number of small, flat-topped flowers that are rich in nectar and pollen, making them attractive to a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Asters also bloom at a time when many other flowers have already finished blooming, making them a valuable food source for pollinators as they prepare for winter.

In addition to providing a food source for pollinators, asters also have a long bloom period, which can last from late summer into fall. This means that they can provide a source of nectar and pollen for a longer period of time compared to many other flowers.

Finally, asters are relatively easy to grow and are adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions, making them a good choice for gardeners of all skill levels. They are also available in a variety of colors, including white, pink, purple, and blue, which can add visual interest to your garden. Overall, asters are a versatile and valuable addition to any pollinator garden.

Bee balm

This aromatic herb produces brightly colored flowers that are particularly attractive to bees and butterflies.

Bee balm (Monarda didyma) is a good pollinator plant for several reasons. First, it produces showy, brightly colored flowers that are particularly attractive to bees, hence its common name. The flowers are also visited by butterflies and hummingbirds, making it a valuable resource for a wide range of pollinators.

In addition to its attractive flowers, bee balm has a number of other features that make it attractive to pollinators. It has a strong, minty aroma that is particularly attractive to bees, and the flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, providing a valuable food source for these insects.

Bee balm is also relatively easy to grow and is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. It is a hardy plant that can tolerate a variety of soil types and is resistant to deer and rabbits. It is also relatively drought-tolerant once it is established, making it a good choice for gardens in dry or arid regions.

Overall, bee balm is a valuable addition to any pollinator garden, as it provides a beautiful and functional resource for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Black-eyed Susan

These cheerful yellow and orange flowers bloom in late summer and are a favorite of bees and butterflies.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a good pollinator plant for several reasons. First, it produces large, showy flowers that are particularly attractive to bees and butterflies. The flowers are also visited by hummingbirds, making it a valuable resource for a wide range of pollinators.

In addition to its attractive flowers, Black-eyed Susan has a number of other features that make it attractive to pollinators. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, providing a valuable food source for these insects. Black-eyed Susan is also relatively easy to grow and is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions, making it a good choice for gardeners of all skill levels.

Black-eyed Susan blooms from late summer into fall, which makes it a valuable food source for pollinators as other flowers start to fade. It is also a long-lasting cut flower, making it a popular choice for floral arrangements.

Overall, Black-eyed Susan is a valuable addition to any pollinator garden, as it provides a beautiful and functional resource for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Butterfly bush

As the name suggests, butterfly bushes are a great choice for attracting butterflies to your garden. They produce clusters of small, fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.

Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is a good pollinator plant for several reasons. First, as its name suggests, it is particularly attractive to butterflies, and it is also visited by bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, providing a valuable food source for these insects.

Butterfly bush is also relatively easy to grow and is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. It is drought-tolerant and can tolerate a variety of soil types, making it a good choice for gardens in dry or arid regions. It is also resistant to deer and rabbits, making it a good choice for gardens in areas where these animals are common.

Butterfly bush is available in a variety of colors, including purple, pink, and white, which can add visual interest to your garden. It has a long blooming season, which can last from late spring into fall, providing a consistent food source for pollinators.

Overall, butterfly bush is a valuable addition to any pollinator garden, as it provides a beautiful and functional resource for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

Coneflower

These long-lasting flowers come in shades of purple, pink, and white and are popular with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a great pollinator plant for a few reasons. For starters, it produces pretty, colorful flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The flowers are also rich in nectar and pollen, providing a valuable food source for these insects.

Coneflower is also relatively easy to grow and can tolerate a range of soil types and growing conditions. It’s drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for gardens in dry or arid regions, and it’s resistant to deer and rabbits, which is always a plus.

Another reason coneflower is a good pollinator plant is that it has a long blooming season, lasting from early summer into fall. This means that it provides a consistent food source for pollinators throughout the season, which is important for supporting their health and survival.

In summary, coneflower is a great pollinator plant because it’s easy to grow, attracts a variety of pollinators, and provides a consistent food source throughout the season.

Daylily

These hardy flowers come in a range of colors and bloom throughout the summer, making them a great choice for attracting a variety of pollinators.

If you’re looking to add some pollinator-friendly plants to your garden, daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) should definitely be on your list! These vibrant flowers are not only beautiful to look at, but they’re also great for attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

One of the reasons daylilies are such a good choice for pollinators is that they produce a lot of nectar and pollen, which is an important food source for these insects. Plus, they have a long blooming season, lasting from early summer into fall, so they provide a consistent food source throughout the growing season.

In addition to being a great food source for pollinators, daylilies are also relatively easy to grow and adaptable to a wide range of soil types and growing conditions. They’re drought-tolerant and resistant to deer and rabbits, which is always a bonus.

So, if you want to add some pollinator-friendly plants to your garden, consider adding some daylilies! Not only will they bring some beautiful color to your garden, but they’ll also provide an important food source for our pollinator friends.

Lavender

This fragrant herb is a favorite of bees and butterflies, and its purple flowers add a lovely pop of color to any garden.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.) is an excellent choice! These beautiful, fragrant plants are not only lovely to look at, but they’re also great for attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

One of the reasons lavender is such a good pollinator plant is that it produces a lot of nectar and pollen, which is an important food source for these insects. Plus, the strong, minty aroma of lavender is particularly attractive to bees, so if you want to attract more of these important pollinators to your garden, lavender is definitely worth considering.

In addition to being a great food source for pollinators, lavender is also relatively easy to grow and adaptable to a wide range of soil types and growing conditions. It’s drought-tolerant and resistant to deer and rabbits, which is always a plus.

Milkweed

As the only host plant for monarch butterflies, milkweed is an essential addition to any pollinator garden. It produces clusters of small, pink or purple flowers that are also attractive to bees and other insects.

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is a good pollinator plant for several reasons. First, it is the only host plant for monarch butterflies, which means that monarch butterflies will only lay their eggs on milkweed plants. The resulting caterpillars will then feed exclusively on milkweed leaves, making it an essential food source for this species.

In addition to being an important food source for monarch butterflies, milkweed is also visited by a variety of other pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, providing a valuable food source for these insects.

Milkweed is also relatively easy to grow and is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. It is drought-tolerant and can tolerate a variety of soil types, making it a good choice for gardens in dry or arid regions. It is also resistant to deer and rabbits, making it a good choice for gardens in areas where these animals are common.

Sunflower

These bright, cheerful flowers are a favorite of bees and butterflies, and they come in a range of sizes and colors to suit any garden.

Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) are good for a pollinator garden for several reasons. First, they produce large, showy flowers that are particularly attractive to bees and butterflies. The flowers are also visited by hummingbirds, making them a valuable resource for a wide range of pollinators.

In addition to their attractive flowers, sunflowers are also relatively easy to grow and are adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions. They are drought-tolerant and can tolerate a variety of soil types, making them a good choice for gardens in dry or arid regions. They are also resistant to deer and rabbits, making them a good choice for gardens in areas where these animals are common.

Sunflowers are available in a range of sizes and colors, including yellow, orange, red, and brown, which can add visual interest to your garden. They have a long blooming season, which can last from mid-summer into fall, providing a consistent food source for pollinators.

Conclusion

Whether you have a small balcony or an entire backyard, you can make a difference by planting a pollinator garden. By creating these special habitats, we can help support pollinators and ensure that our planet remains healthy and balanced. With just a few simple steps, you can create a pollinator paradise in your own backyard!