2 MILLION BLOSSOMS
Imperfect gardens are better than no gardens at all, so even if your creation contains ornamentals, weeds, nativars, or human food crops, you will be helping some of the pollinators and other insects. Every little bit helps.
gardens, you can go there to do your observations. In addition to the Chicago Botanic Garden, you can observe pollinators at the Denver, North Carolina, and San Diego Botanic Gardens from now until the close of the observation window in fall 2022. Gardeners may plant one or more of the cultivars along with the wild type, depending on how much space they want to allow for the project. Plants should be at least two feet apart, but close enough that they have similar growing conditions. Participants can watch multiple plants during the recording period if the plants are close enough and insect visits infrequent enough to allow it. Otherwise, they can watch each plant separately for 10 minutes before moving to the next. Learning how well nativars attract pollinators is a vital
the pollinators don't bother visiting them, an analysis of the
The Perils of Starting Over If you are thinking of starting or renovating a pollinator area, take the time to make a well-informed plan. Experienced native gardeners and even restoration ecologists warn us against removing all non-native species from a plot and starting over. A mix of native and non-native species is pulling every weed.
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Susan Waters of Quamish EcoResearch in Olympia,
Washington explained that certain weeds may be supporting some of the bee species, especially those weeds that bloom eliminate,” she says and recommends replacing weedy species with similar things that bloom at roughly the same time.4 A good example is Hypochaeris radicata, also known
it nearly impossible to eliminate, but it’s popular among a wide range of pollinators. To avoid disrupting the bees that depend on it, remove it gradually and only after alternative This same philosophy was echoed by landscape architect
have to start over. Just introduce a few new native species into your beds. Plant some natives in with those roses and peonies that you love, and the insects will come.”5
Other Tips for Pollinator Habitat The bottom line is biodiversity. The more species that live in your garden, the healthier the ecosystem. A diverse garden— even one that includes some less desirable species—will ultimately have fewer pests. To some extent, all these creatures eat each other—a practice that keeps everyone sweat bee, or a yellowjacket taking off with a caterpillar. That so-called balance of nature is a sure sign of garden health.
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