Tag: pollinator gardening
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Stem-Nesting Pollinators
This post was originally published in June 21, 2011, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). I just discovered that I have something(s) nesting in my bee condos! I call them bee condos because they’re made for orchard mason bees, leaf-cutter bees, and similar bees that nest in stems in the wild. And they’re…
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Which Colors Attract Which Pollinators?
This post was originally published in February 24, 2012, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). It turns out, it’s more complicated than we used to think. The idea of pollination syndromes came about decades ago, and suggested that there were set characteristics among flowers that attracted certain pollinators. This is useful when you’re…
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Take Action to Help Pollinators #9
This post was originally published in August 2012, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). Put out some ripe fruit Did you know that some butterflies feed exclusively from ripe fruit, tree sap, even dung and carrion? It’s true! These species, such as the lovely commas (Polygonia), don’t serve as important pollinators because they…
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Take Action to Help Pollinators #8
This post was originally published on April 19, 2012, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). Leave those sticks Many native bees and other beneficial insects (like wasps and beetles) nest in stems and fallen wood. If you have large trees on your property, consider leaving their fallen stems for pollinators! If you’re the…
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Take Action to Help Pollinators #7
This post was originally published on April 5, 2012, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). Allow a little nibbling It seems that many gardeners aim for plants in pristine condition. While this has aesthetic appeal, it usually means killing anything that threatens to take a bite out of their plants. Plants in the…
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Take Action to Help Pollinators #6
This post was originally published on February 14, 2012, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). Use natives Pollinators get the most benefit from native plants, no matter where you live. There’s a lot of research to back this up; native plants are better for pollinators than non-natives. Here are a few reasons why:…
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Take Action to Help Pollinators #5
This post was originally published on January 7, 2012, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). Use native grasses You might not have thought about using grasses to help pollinators, but they’re great for several reasons: Plant your grasses in large patches to provide a continuous habitat. This will benefit pollinators, other beneficial critters,…
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Take Action to Help Pollinators #4
This post was originally published on November 23, 2011, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). Don’t mulch More bees nest in the ground than anywhere else. These bees need bare patches so they can dig their nest tunnels. Unfortunately, adding mulch on top of these areas prevents bees from being able to nest…
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Take Action to Help Pollinators #3
This post was originally published on October 18, 2011, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). Keep something blooming One of the best ways you can help pollinators is to feed them during the entire blooming season. When choosing plants for your garden, make sure something is always in bloom from one week to…
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Take Action to Help Pollinators #2
This post was originally published on August 9, 2011, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online). Minimize pesticide use Pesticides kill all kinds of insects, not just the ones you don’t want to see anymore. Consider the following ideas: I hope these tips give you some ideas of how to help pollinators on your…
Athena Rayne Anderson 