Emily Chan
Plant a variety of flowers of all colors, shapes, and sizes to attract pollinators. The key is to group several flowers together. They will be drawn to a bigger cluster of plants rather than individual blooms.
Furthermore, choose flowers that bloom heavily from early spring to late fall so they’ll have a lot more options to choose from when springtime comes.
Annual flowers are the easiest to grow. They pop up each year, lasting for an entire season. They’re the perfect plants to start out your garden with. Cosmos, sunflowers, and zinnias are known for attracting bees and butterflies.
Perennial plants are an excellent way to expand your garden over time. They bloom for a few weeks to a few months and return for many seasons. Consider planting the nectar-rich salvia, milkweed, and coneflowers.
Native plants are also good to include. The modern obsession with perfectly manicured green lawns has eradicated much of the wildlife that pollinators have evolved with and adapted to. Research shows that native plants are four times more likely to attract pollinators than non-natives.
Something else to add to your garden is edible plants. Herbs like chives, dill, and cilantro are popular among pollinators.
Lastly, provide a water source for the bees and butterflies. A birdbath or shallow dish of water will suffice. Even better if you’ve already got a natural water source, such as a stream or pond.
If you follow these tips for attracting the bees and the butterflies and limit the use of chemicals in your garden, you will create a welcoming space that the pollinators will be sure to return to every year.
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