Things We can do for Pollinators

As we come to the end of this year’s National Pollinator Week, I thought it would be a good time to summarize some of the things we can do to help pollinators.  From the Million Pollinator Garden Network:

• Use plants that provide nectar and pollen sources
• Provide a water source
• Situate the gardens in sunny areas with wind breaks
• Create large “pollinator targets” (clumps) of native or non-invasive plants
• Plant a variety of plants that bloom throughout the growing season*
• Eliminate or minimize the impact of pesticides

Added from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF):

• Leave a dead tree or tree limb to create bee habitat
• Provide nectar for hummingbirds
• Learn all you can about pollinators by visiting the Pollinator Partnership website.

*Choose plants native to your ecoregion. They will have evolved with the local biodiversity and will be most appropriate for the local pollinator species. Also, include plants that bloom at night to attract bats and moths. Use the Pollinator Partnership regional planting guides to help you determine the plants most appropriate for your area. Just enter your zip code to find suggestions for your pollinator garden.

Million Pollinator Garden Challenge

Several years ago, while I was still Executive Director, Wild Ones joined the National Pollinator Garden Network in sponsoring the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. So far 696,133 gardens have been registered, but with each garden added, it gets closer to its one million goal. Just go to the Register Your Site Today webpage and follow the prompts.

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