#gardeningforpollinators — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #gardeningforpollinators, aggregated by home.social.
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Some home-grown blooms (don't worry -- I left plenty for the bees). #Cosmos, #Zinnias and some #Sedum (a late-season favorite of the local bumblebees).
#SolarPunkSunday #Bloomscrolling #Flowers #SilentSunday #GardeningForPollinators
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TY for sharing, @joewynne ! This reinforces my idea for using my plot in the community garden next year for native wildflowers for pollinators!
cc: @NCConnect
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#Ontario - #BinbrookON #NativePlant Giveaway & #RainGarden Pop-Up
Sep 26, 2026, 9:30am – 12:00pm EDT
Binbrook Agricultural Society
2600 Hwy 56, Binbrook, ON"Join Green Venture for a drop-in rain garden information session and native plant giveaway!
A rain garden is a specially designed garden that catches, slows and utilizes large volumes of rain water. They can be excellent at reducing #flooding or helping troublesome areas where water pools on a landscape. #RainGardens also prevent stormwater runoff by using up rain water close to where it falls. Green Venture offers the #RainReadyHamilton program, funded by the City of #HamiltonON , to support residents with installing a feature on their property that helps reduce stormwater runoff. Learn all about rain gardens and the Rain Ready Hamilton program with our drop-in information session.
Add beauty and support #pollinators by planting native plants this fall! Register to receive a native plant kit containing 3 #PollinatorFriendly plants suitable for full-sun, partial shade, or full shade growing conditions. Fill out the form at the link below to reserve a native plant kit! Pick-up your native plant kit during our event, between 9:30am-12:00pm at the Binbrook Agricultural Society."
FMI and to register:
https://www.greenventure.ca/binbrookgiveaway#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #RainCollection #RainGardens #SharingInformation #PlantGiveAways
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Some reasons NOT to plant #Hostas ...
Native Alternatives to Hostas: 6 Shade Plants to Grow Instead
By Rooted Haven
April 28, 2026Excerpt: "While they’re easy to grow and widely loved, they don’t support the same level of #wildlife as #NativePlants .
While hostas may occasionally be visited by bumble bees, they don’t support much life beyond that.
And that’s where native plants are different.
Native plants don’t just provide nectar—they support entire life cycles.
Caterpillars, for example, rely on specific native plants as host plants:
- to lay their eggs
- to feed their young
- to complete their transformation into butterflies and mothsAnd there are no native North American species that rely on hostas in this way. And we’ve planted hostas everywhere.
So while hostas may fill space in your garden, they’re not contributing much to the ecosystem around them."
Learn more:
https://rooted-haven.com/replace-your-hostas-with-these-6-native-alternatives/#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #Gardening #HomeGardens
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Hubby wanted to plant #Hostas around the micro-patio. "No no no..." I replied. "Hostas aren't native to North America and they can be toxic to dogs and cats. Let's plant some #CreepingPhlox instead! It's low to the ground, non-toxic to the critters, and the bees love it!"
How to Grow and Care for Creeping Phlox
https://www.thespruce.com/creeping-phlox-plants-2132214
#SolarPunkSunday #LessLawns #MoreFlowers #GardeningForPollinators
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Chompie friend is getting bigger! We always leave some #milkweed to grow in our yard -- and it pays off!
#GardeningForPollinators #SolarPunkSunday #MonarchButterflies #MonarchCaterpillar
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Not one, but two #Bumblebees were sampling my Mammoth #sunflower at the #CommunityGarden. No goldfinch damage -- but other gardeners have been growing different sunflowers, so I'll have to keep that in mind (surprise hybrids?). I'm sure whatever they are, they'll be edible -- especially for the birds!
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So, recently, one of the community gardeners commented on how one of the plots (mine) was full of flowers, and that it was pretty. I thanked them and said it wasn't for show -- it was for the pollinators! When I watered today, there were three monarch butterflies sampling my wares, and my cosmos flowers were full of bumblebees. (Hopefully, I'll remember my camera tomorrow...)
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15 Flowers That Attract #MonarchButterflies
by Thomas Nelson
"As a devoted gardener, I have long been fascinated by the delicate yet resilient nature of the Monarch butterfly. Their annual migration and intricate life cycle inspire awe and admiration. By planting a garden filled with nectar-rich flowers, we can play an active role in preserving and nurturing these incredible creatures.
Monarch butterflies are particularly attracted to nectar-rich flowers that provide them with a reliable food source during their long migrations and breeding seasons. Here are some flowers that are known to attract and support Monarch butterflies."
Learn more:
https://thegardenmagazine.com/10-flowers-that-attract-monarch-butterflies/#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #Gardening #Butterflies #Flowers
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#SeedSavingExchange - Learn how to create a garden that will attract #NativePollinators with #SeedSaving in mind.
Excerpt:
"Serve Up an Enticing Menu Year-Round
Flowering plants supply #pollinators like #bees and #butterflies with essential pollen and nectar. #PollinatorFriendly plants also provide a safe shelter for our hard-working insect friends. The most important aspect of any pollinator garden is diversity. Because pollinators are active from April to October, make sure you have a colorful array of continuously blooming flowers from early spring through fall and keep your plants free of pesticides, fungicides, and insecticides.
Plants should be selected based on the space they will occupy. Specifically, consider your space’s soil type, sun exposure, and moisture levels.
You may also choose to select plant species to support specific pollinators.
- To help monarch butterflies, include #milkweeds and high-quality nectar plants like blazingstars.
- To support #Bumblebees, include plants like #WildBergamot, #hyssop, and #goldenrod.
- #Sunflowers offer not only a supportive perch but also seeds to help attract #hummingbirds and other feathered friends to your garden. #Honeysuckles are also a great way to attract hummingbirds.To ensure that the pollinators will have something to forage from spring through fall, select various natives that flower at different times throughout the growing season. Choosing plants with a variety of flower colors and shapes will also help attract an assortment of insects of a variety of sizes and foraging habits. Larger clusters of a plant species are better for attracting pollinators than several smaller clusters in and around the garden space."
Learn more:
https://seedsavers.org/learn/pollinators/#SolarPunkSunday #Gardening #GardeningForPollinators #SeedCollection #NativePlants
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If these plants are growing in your yard, leave them be! For the bees!
#NativePlants for rusty patched #bumblebees
Fall Blooming (September - October)
Native field #thistle (Cirsium discolor)
Native swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
Native gentian species (Gentiana spp)
Showy #goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
Native goldenrod species (Solidago spp)
New England #aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)Learn more:
https://www.fws.gov/story/planting-rusty-patched-bumble-bees#SolarPunkSunday #EndangeredBees #RustyPatchedBumblebee #Gardening #GardeningForPollinators #USFWS #US #FWS #FishAndWildlifeService
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How to attract #bumblebees to your #garden
Having some early and some late flowers in your planting mix will prolong the nectar season for bumblebees
Excerpt: "Top 30 plants for bumblebees
As with any planting for nectar, having some early and late flowers in the mix will prolong the nectar season for bumblebees. Planting them in drifts will help bees recognise them and allows them to visit repeatedly.
Agastache (Agastache sp)
Betony (Stachys officianlis)
Borage (Borago officianalis)
Broad bean (Vicia g faba)
Buddleia (Buddleia davidii)
Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Catmint (Nepeta)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Clovers (Trifolium)
Comfrey (Spymphytum officianale)
Cranesbill (Geranium)
Curry plant (Helichrysum angustifolium)
Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa)
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Heather (Calluna, Erica)
Knapweed (Centaurea)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
Mints (Mentha)
Nasturium (Tropaeolum majus)
Poached Egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officianalis)
Sage (Salvia officianalis)
Larkspur (Delphinium)
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
Thistles (Cirsium)
Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)
Verbascum (Verbascum)
Viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare)
Woundworts (Stachys arvensis)
Seasonal planting
Having some early and some late flowers in your planting mix will prolong the nectar season for bumble bees and other pollinators, too. Planting them in drifts will help bees to recognise them easily, allowing them to visit repeatedly.
Early flowers
Aubretia (Aubretia)
Dandelion (Taraxacum)
English bluebells (Hyancynthiodes non-scripta)
Flowering currant (Ribes sanguinium)
Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)
Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Pussy willow (Alix caprea)
Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri)
White deadnettle (Lamium album)
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Late flowers
Buddleia (Buddleia davidii)
Ceanothus (Ceonothus)
Cone flower (Echinacea)
Goldenrod (Solidago candensis)
Ivy (Hedera helix)
Lavender (Lavandula)
Michaelmas daisies (Aster)
Red valerian (Centranthus ruber)
Sedum (Sedum spectabile)"Learn more:
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-attract-bumblebees-your-garden -
RE: https://mastodon.ie/@thebeeguy/117066114110931551
We have a patch for our #thistle plants next to our mini #FoodForest. Food for everyone -- including our #Bumblebee friends! 💚
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Garden update... One corn stalk got a bit dinged from the recent storm (as did my black hollyhocks), but everything else is doing well... Squash is climbing the fence, beans are climbing the corn, and a itty bitty ear of corn is forming in one of the stalks! Two of the sunflowers are in bloom, and the bees are digging them!
#SolarPunkSunday #ThreeSistersGarden #HomeGardens #GardeningForPollinators
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The #MonarchButterfly stuck around long enough for me to grab my camera, but was soon off to sample the neighbor's flowers.
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Moments I wish I had a camera... This morning, out watering the flower garden, and I came face-to-face to a #MonarchButterfly enjoying some #marigolds in a hanging flowerpot. I hadn't realized that they liked marigolds! Now I know! 🦋 🌻 (PS - I did get some photos of the butterfly a few minutes later... I'll post those soon.)
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Bulletin #7151, Landscaping for #Butterflies in #Maine
This fact sheet was developed by: Nancy Coverstone, Extension educator, Jim Dill, Extension pest management specialist, and Lois Berg Stack, Extension ornamental horticulture specialist.
"Butterflies are beautiful insects, and they are also an important part of the ecosystem. In their search for nectar, they spread pollen from one flower to another and help ensure seed for new generations of plants. They also recycle nutrients and are prey for many species of birds, spiders and small mammals. Gardening and landscaping can create or enhance habitats for butterflies so they may survive and thrive. Whether your yard is in a city, suburb or rural community, you can make it a haven for butterflies.
Butterflies belong to the insect order Lepidoptera, along with moths and skippers. All species of butterflies in Maine, of which there are more than one hundred, have four wings covered with small scales. The butterfly families in Maine are swallowtails (Papilionidae), whites and sulphurs (Pieridae), gossamer-wings (Lycaenidae), brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae), monarchs (Danaidae), and arctics and satyrs (Satyridae), which includes the endangered Katahdin arctic. Skippers (Hesperiidae) have characteristics of both butterflies and moths.
When developing a landscape for butterflies, first consider butterfly species present in your area and their preferred habitats. Then consider plants suited to your climate and your backyard habitat. Assess what your landscape already provides, and add to that. Each butterfly species has a preference or need for a particular habitat type, such as meadow, woods, woodland edges or marshes. Also, some species are specialists, while others are generalists regarding food sources. The habitat preference as well as plants you provide will determine your success in attracting a particular butterfly species. An identification field guide will prove helpful."
Learn more:
https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/7151e/#SolarPunkSunday #MaineCooperativeExtension #GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForButterflies #Butterflies
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UK - How to Garden Through #ClimateChange
If you’re struggling with your garden in these times of uncertain and extreme weather, who better to talk to than botanist and long-time organic gardener #SallyMorgan, the British-based author of The Healthy Vegetable Garden and #TheClimateChangeGarden?
By Naomi Starkman, September 1, 2022
Excerpt: "You’ve been known as somebody who doesn’t actively weed. Are attitudes changing towards weeds?
I hope so. And there are lots of weeds that have benefits. I quite like #dandelions. Everybody hates them. But actually, if you keep it under control, and you don’t allow it to seed, then you’ve got the benefit of the deep roots. And it will then act as a companion plant. I think to the young gardener who’s looking for a more #biodiverse garden that attracts more insects, and for that, improves the food chain, then weeds are important.
"I’ve got quite excited about weeds this year; I’ve been doing a diversity count in my own plot. Every month, I go out and I count the different number of flowers that I can see in my garden because I need natural predators in my garden. And I’ve noticed that out of season, up to 50 percent of the flowers on offer in my garden are weeds. And they all have a #pollinator or more. So, I’ve got to live with those. Because if I want #bumblebees, small #SolitaryBees, and #ParasiticWasps to be in my garden in March, say, I need a few #weeds, because that’s what they love. Our #StingingNettles are so important for early green fly. And that brings in the ladybugs. So, you’ve got to live with a few weeds to have #biodiversity in the garden. I hope people will see them for the benefit that they are.
"Let’s talk a little bit about #ExtremeWeather gardening. One of our team members lives on the East Coast, and says that she’s been having more trouble than usual growing things this year, particularly because there’s been so much rain and constant moisture. What advice do you have about combating extra moisture?
"For that type of thing, it’s actually #humus, and getting #OrganicMatter in the soil, so that the soil is more #resilient against extra water. #Drainage is quite tricky. I think in the past, I would have suggested adding grit to soil. But now the evidence seems to suggest that grit actually doesn’t do any good unless you put lots of it in. So, I think we’re down to the #mulching and making the soil more #loam-like so it’ll be able to lose that extra moisture. And maybe use more #RaisedBeds, so you can lift that soil off the ground, or give it a bit more drainage. But, it’s really difficult. The other thing that one can do is to look at the variety of crops that you are growing, and see whether there are varieties within that crop type that might be a little bit more resilient against getting wet."
Full article:
https://civileats.com/2022/09/01/how-to-garden-through-climate-change/#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeGardening #Compost #Mulch #GardeningForPollinators #Biodiversity
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How #ClimateChange Is Reshaping Your Garden (And What You Can Do)
by barbara, July 19, 2025
"As our climate continues to shift, gardeners are noticing significant changes in traditional growing patterns. Plants that once thrived in specific seasons are now experiencing confused growth cycles, with some flowering too early and others struggling to adapt to unpredictable temperature swings.
"These fluctuations affect not just when plants grow, but how well they develop. Warmer winters can trick plants into breaking dormancy too early, leaving them vulnerable to late frosts. Meanwhile, extended growing seasons might seem beneficial, but they can lead to pest problems and throw off the natural timing of pollinator relationships.
"Many gardeners report seeing spring bulbs emerging weeks earlier than usual, and fall plants staying active longer into winter. While this might temporarily increase production in some regions, it also creates new challenges for maintaining healthy plant communities. The key is to work with these changes rather than against them, selecting varieties that can handle temperature swings and implementing season extension techniques when needed.
"To help your garden adapt, consider creating #microclimates using #WindBarriers and #shade structures, and experiment with different planting dates to find new rhythms that work in your changing environment."
#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeAdaptation #TemperatureExtremes #Gardening #WildlifeCorridors #GardeningForPollinators #Microclimates #SoilHealth #ClimateResilience #Rainbarrels #WaterCollection #Drought #ExtremeRain #DroughtTolerantPlants #ClimateChangeGardening
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So, this is why I'm growing plants that are Native to #NorthAmerica, but not #Maine. We may not be able to rely on predictable weather and seasons because of #ClimateChange, so we need to think about growing species that can deal with those changes.
#US - #ClimateSmart #NativePlants for the #Northeast
"Welcome to Climate-Smart Native Plant Tools (C-SNaP Tools)
This website aims to serve #RestorationEcologists, landscape professionals, and #HomeGardeners interested in identifying and locating plants that support #ecosystem function and are likely to persist with #ClimateChange. Our tools focus on the #NortheasternUS from #Kentucky to #Maine with informational resources that may be relevant more broadly. Our work is led by members of the Spatial Ecology Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in collaboration with the Northeast Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Network with support from the USGS Northeast #ClimateAdaptation Science Center.
Why native plants?
Native plants, defined as species historically found growing without human intervention in a given location, provide substantial ecological benefits including increasing the abundance of native #birds and #pollinators (learn more here and here). Native plants are also far less likely to cause ecological harm than species introduced from other continents.
Why climate-smart?
On their own, native species are moving much too slowly to 'keep up' with the rapid pace of climate change (learn more). To build #EcologicalResilience to climate change, ecologists have suggested use of #WarmAdaptedGenotypes over local genotypes and planting warm-adapted plants beyond the margins of their historical ranges."
Learn more:
https://www.climatesmartnativeplants.org/index.html#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeGardening #GardeningForPollinators #ClimateResilience
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One of my bumblebee friends was sampling the #HopiBlackDyeSunflower the other day. There is only one in bloom at the moment, but #Sunflowers can self-pollinate!
#SolarPunkSunday #HeirloomPlants #GardeningForPollinators #HomeGardens #FourSisters #Bumblebees #Bloomscrolling
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This #FirstNations horticulturist Indigenizes plant spaces in B.C.
#ShaylaChalifoux sub-consults for landscape architects on incorporating #NativePlants
Edzi'u Loverin · CBC News · Posted: Nov 14, 2025
Excerpt: "According to the province of B.C., plant biodiversity in #BritishColumbia is unmatched in Canada, with at least 2,500 native vascular plant species, in addition to thousands of lichens, mosses and fungi.
"Individuals can help support the land by planting native plants in pots on their balconies and gardens, said Chalifoux.
" 'Why would you plant a native plant here? Because host nations have a relationship with that, or this specific plant is a host plant for a larva, a native butterfly, that needs to eat only this plant to survive,' said Chalifoux.
" 'The land is hurting. One way we can help the land is by incorporating native plants.'
"Chalifoux said though things are changing, not many municipalities have policies to ensure a percentage of native plants are included in city landscaping.
"#CBCIndigenous asked the City of #Vancouver if it had any policies around the number of native plants required to be planted in urban planning.
"A City of Vancouver spokesperson said in a statement that the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is working to increase native plants in #UrbanSpaces and considers a number of factors in planning, including maintenance, resilience, and canopy cover, and consults with local #FirstNations.
"A prime example of this is the addition of #PacificYew to the Stanley Park Restoration initiative, upon receiving feedback from local First Nations," said the statement.
"The city said it has also provided native plants for #EcologicalRestoration in Vancouver parks to non-profits and community groups that hold community planting events."
Full article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenize-plant-spaces-in-b-c-9.6978056#SolarPunkSunday #VancouverBC #FirstNations #GreenerCities #GardeningForPollinators #Biodiversity #Canada #RestoreNature #ContainerGardening
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So, a couple of plants in my own "sensory garden" are the catnip, oregano, mint and lemon balm [shown in the photo]. I love brushing my hands against the fragrant leaves, then taking in the scent. The bees love them too!
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I spent some quiet time in the backyard with my camera. I love finding the discipline to minimize my movements so I don't startle the bees. It paid off today as I captured them sampling the catnip flowers (a local favorite)!
#SolarPunkSunday #SpendTimeInNature #GardeningForPollinators #Bumblebees #NatureHeals
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#Bumblebees are struggling in #UKHeatwaves - but you can help them
Justin Rowlatt, July 21, 2026
Excerpt: "Conservationists say the best way to help is by creating more flower-rich habitats, so bumblebees can find food even as the climate becomes more extreme.
"Dr Sarah Beynon is an insect expert whose west Wales farm is managed for wildlife as well as food. She has planted #meadows, #willows, #hedgerows, #TussockyGrasses and late-flowering crops to give insects food through the summer.
" 'When we came, this farm was a wildlife desert,' she says. 'In 10 years, it's become a nature reserve.'
"Her message is that people do not need acres of land to help. A pot of native wildflowers on a doorstep or windowsill can act as a small refuelling stop for insects moving through a human-dominated landscape.
" 'Your flowerpot is a service station,' she says. 'It's somewhere to rest, refuel and carry on.'
"Dr Richard Comont adds that putting in a pond [#BeeWateringStation] - however small - and shade can also help.
"#Flowers growing near water tend to produce nectar with more moisture in it, he says. Bumblebees cannot collect water in the way honeybees do, they get most of the liquid they need from nectar, so wetter nectar can help make colonies more resilient in hot weather.
Whilst planting dense #shrubs gives bumblebees places to escape the heat of the sun, and can allow them to move between flowers through cooler patches of air."Learn more:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c141lymnl2yoArchived version:
https://archive.ph/AbQwI#SolarPunkSunday #SaveTheBees #MoreFlowers #GardeningForPollinators #ClimateChange #Heatwaves
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Before and after photos. 3 years ago, I planted a few flowers around our dug well. It's expanded...
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A bee enjoying some of the many flowers in bloom!
#SolarPunkSunday #SilentSunday #GardeningForPollinators #BlackEyedSusans #Wildflowers #Bees
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In the #HomeGarden, the #HopiBlueCorn is getting tall! There are also #CaveBeans, Squash, Cucumbers and #Sunflowers. I'm looking forward to hopefully having some seeds that have gotten used to growing in #Maine, and that are #DroughtTolerant (the corn, beans and sunflowers). And yes, those are milkweed plants growing in front of the fence.
#ClimateChangeGardening #SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #HomeGardens