Let's Talk About Pollinators!

Pollinators are animals that help plants reproduce by transferring pollen from one flower to another. This process is essential for the production of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. While bees are the most well-known pollinators, there are many others, including butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, bats, beetles, and even some types of flies and wasps. Each pollinator species has unique preferences and behaviors; for instance, hummingbirds are drawn to tubular red flowers, while butterflies prefer bright, flat blossoms that provide landing platforms. Bees, particularly honeybees and bumblebees, are generalists and visit a wide variety of flowers, making them among the most efficient pollinators.

To attract and support these pollinators, gardeners can cultivate specific types of flowers that meet their needs for nectar and pollen. Native plants are especially effective because local pollinators have evolved alongside them. Some excellent perennial choices include lavender, coneflowers, Foxglove, Joe Pye Weed, bee balm, honeysuckle, yarrow, milkweed (a favorite of monarch butterflies), and sunflowers.

The Xerces Society is a wonderful resource for more detailed information on pollinators and what you can do to protect them within your neighborhood. A detailed list specific to the Northeast can be downloaded here.

Annual flowers are also great additions to your gardens as they provide instant color and interest and are generally very easy to grow. A few annuals that are great additions to your gardens are Salvia, Zinnia, Marigolds, Alyssum, Calendula, Petunias, and Lantana.

Plants that bloom at different times of the year can provide a consistent food source from spring through fall. Avoiding pesticides and planting in clusters can also make gardens more pollinator-friendly. By supporting pollinators, gardeners contribute to ecosystem health and the success of many crops and wild plants.