| Greetings Gardeners,
Listen up—do you hear it? A healthy garden sounds like a live concert put on by humming bees, singing birds, and chirping insects. My yard is home to numerous fruit trees, such as mulberry, pawpaw, and pear, as well as fruiting shrubs like blueberries, gooseberries, and goumi berries. This makes it rich in blossoms and a magnet for numerous pollinators—and their melodies. That's not true for every backyard; in fact, pollinator populations, including bats, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, flies, and moths, which are crucial to the success of our flower and food crops, have been declining for years. The good news is that it's easy to make your garden a haven for our winged, beneficent friends. |
| Just like people, pollinators need food, water, and shelter. Bringing in native and flowering plants is one of the best ways to attract them. Earlier this spring, I sowed asters, lavender, and marigolds. And, in May, I transplanted hand-me-down bee balm, perennial sunflowers, and wild indigo to increase the pollen and nectar available at different times of the year, ensuring a continuous buffet. |
| Between a birdbath and a brook nearby, there are plentiful hydration stations for roving bands of buzzers. I've also been nurturing small wild zones at the edges of my growing space, where piles of leaf litter and brush supply shelter for pollinators throughout the seasons. After frost closes the garden, I'll let the foliage die back in place, leaving hollow stems and flower seed heads that offer nesting and overwintering sites. I avoid pesticides, as these can harm or kill pollinators. For my efforts to strengthen the ecosystem, I am rewarded with a constant serenade, butterfly sightings, and the twinkle of fireflies on warm June nights. |
| Want to learn more about how to attract pollinators to your garden? Check out our recent article by Robin Sweetser, The Best Flowers for Bees, on Almanac.com. It's a great place to start! Take a look at The Old Farmer's Store—including great products such as The Old Farmer's Almanac—and you'll find some of my favorite practical tools and resources for the gardening season! |
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