Pollinator gardens easy as 1-2-3
As spring approaches take time to prepare for the growing season. Plan and dream — even plant a few seeds
A gardener waiting for spring is like a kid waiting for Santa — each counts down the days to the big event with a sense of anticipation and excitement.
There may still be snow on the ground, but I’m already counting down the last 20 days ’til spring arrives — I can hardly wait.
Just as the weeks before Christmas are filled with preparations and projects for the upcoming holiday season, the final weeks before spring arrives offer an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming season. It’s a time to plan, dream, and even plant a few seeds, if you are so inclined.
I’ve been editing images for upcoming Zoom presentations, and my office is filled with colourful images of flowers, butterflies and bees, all of which got me thinking … this is the perfect time to consider adding a pollinator garden to your property.
What is a pollinator? A pollinator is anything that helps carry pollen from the male part of the flower (stamen) to the female part of the same or another flower (stigma). The movement of pollen must occur for the the plant to become fertilized and produce fruits, seeds and young plants. Pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, beetles, wasps and even flies.
Planting a pollinator garden can be as easy as 1-2-3 if you follow a few simple steps. An inviting home for pollinators must include flowers rich in pollen and nectar, be chemical-free and offer shelter and water. You don’t need a lot of space (even a small patio or balcony can welcome pollinators) or special tools, and with a little advance planning you can start a few seeds in March and April to help keep the costs of the project down. In return, you will be rewarded with a colourful garden animated with bees and butterflies.
Nectar and pollen
A garden for pollinators must include nectar and pollen rich flowers like old-fashioned flowers with simple forms. Heavily petalled flowers make it difficult for the bees and butterflies to gather nectar or pollen, often the stamens are buried under layers of petals. Instead, include simple forms like single daisies or open bell shapes (popular with hummingbirds and bees).
A well-planned pollinator garden will include a wide palette of flowering plants that will span the seasons from spring until fall. Early flowering crocus (a few pots tucked in around the yard will give you a head start) and early flowering trees and shrubs such as redbud, witch hazel, magnolia and cherry are all attractive to bees. Shrubs and trees are a longer term project, but as the budget and space allow, include a few early-flowering trees and shrubs in your plan. When possible, consider planting native woodies such as redbud, dogwood, black chokeberry and serviceberry.
Annual flowers and herbs that can be started from seed and attract pollinators include aster, Brazilian verbena, zinnia, fennel, dill, echinacea, calendula, salvia, sunflower and borage. These plants are all easy to start from seed. Perennials such as goldenrod, lavender, garden sage, bee balm, echinacea and catmint are also good choices, they are probably better purchased as starts from your local garden centre or you may have a neighbour or family member who is willing to share a few divisions, later this spring.
Chemical free
If you want to attract bees, butterflies and beneficial insects to your garden, it is essential that you do not apply any chemicals to the plants. Many pesticides, even organic ones, can be toxic to bees and other beneficial insects. Often when left to its own devices, the natural ecosystem within the garden can keep things in check. If required, a gentle spray of water and a rub with a gloved hand can remove most pests (like aphids) without disrupting the organic balance in the garden.
Security and shelter
Butterflies, bees and other beneficials need a home that offers shelter from predators and gives them a spot to raise their young. On a city lot, a row of flowering shrubs will offer protection, or leave a log on the ground in a sunny, but sheltered spot for solitary bees and butterflies. Butterfly and bat houses, and blocks of wood with drilled holes for mason bees, can be tucked into the garden — these can be interesting building projects for a person who is handy with tools.
Water and food
Flowers will provide most of the food for visiting bees, butterflies and other pollinators, but they also need water. A small birdbath or a small water feature will offer a steady supply of water and attract a surprising number of birds to the garden. Butterflies apparently like muddy puddles which offer the insects salts and nutrients along with water.
Planting even a few native plants in a small backyard, or in a planter on a balcony can make a big difference when it comes to welcoming pollinators. To attract the most diverse group of pollinators to your garden, remember that many pollinators feed on specific plants. For example, monarch butterfly caterpillars only feed on milkweed plants, and sweat bees prefer sunflowers, hummingbirds sip nectar from long tubular flowers, and swallowtail butterflies deposit their eggs on dill, fennel and parsley in my home garden. Plant in large patches when possible, this allows for more efficient foraging and gives you more colour.
Spring will be here before we know it, consider adding a few native plants and herbs to your garden to welcome native bees, butterflies and other pollinators.