Author: Barbara Driscoll

My husband introduced me to my love of birds, then I found butterflies, and finally I found native bees. When you create a pollinator friendly yard, you too will find all of these co-existing. It is amazing to me that there are over 4000 species of native bees in North America, from the large bumble bees (Bombus) to the gnat sized Perdita.

The honey bee, which receives a lot of press due to bee colony collapse, is actually a European bee and not native; although, the plight of the honey bee has drawn a lot of attention to the losses we face for bees in general. In 2017, the rusty patched bumble bee was added to the Endangered Species List, which is yet another indication that bees and other pollinators are in trouble. So, what can you do to help this situation? Well, one thing is to provide habitat for pollinators and that in turn will help birds, butterflies, and bees and a lot of other insects.

Pollinators need the same basic things that we do: food, shelter and water.

Let’s start with food. Pollinators need both nectar-providing plants and host plants. Nectar provides sustenance for our butterflies, bees, wasps, flies, and hummingbirds.

All butterflies and moths require host plants for their caterpillars to feed on, so it is important to include host plants mixed in with your nectar plants. The butterfly most people know about is the Monarch which requires milkweed (Asclepias spp.) as a host plant for its caterpillars. The Monarch only lays eggs on milkweed, and its caterpillars only eat milkweed. Other host plants that are common to our area are Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) for the Spicebush caterpillar; Passion flower (Passiflora spp.) for Fritillaries and hairstreaks; Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) for Black Swallowtails; Pipevine (Isotrema spp.) for Pipevine Swallowtail; and PawPaw (Asmina trilobal) for the Zebra Swallowtail. These are the larger and more visible butterflies, but there are many others!

Many of our butterflies and moths’ host plants are our trees including Oak species, Sassafras, Tulip-trees, Maples, Willows and more. Some of our best nectar plants are also trees such as Tulip-trees, Sourwood, Black Cherry, Serviceberry, and Dogwood. For more perennials, shrubs and trees please refer to: "Creating Your Pollinator Garden" for a list of nectar and host plants.

Some things to remember when planning a pollinator garden:

• Use native plants!
• Choose a variety of nectar plants that will bloom throughout the season from March to October.
• Cluster plants of the same species for easier feeding.
• Include various colors and sizes of blooms.
• Include native grasses for structure and caterpillar habitat.
• Don’t be upset when caterpillars eat your host plants—it means success!

• Don’t use insecticides and ask about neonicotinoid treatments when purchasing plants. Even organic insecticides can kill pollinators. See the Xerces Society's "How Neonicotinoids Can Kill Bees".
• Start small and add over time for more diversity.
• Predators in the garden are a sign of a healthy ecosystem.

Pollinators also need shelter and water:

While people are familiar with honey-bee hives, most of our native bees are solitary nesters, often in the ground or wood. 70 percent nest in the ground, while others nest in hollow twigs, rocks, and tree holes. Female bees prepare nests and provide pollen and nectar. Provide sunny, exposed earth areas, stick piles, or bee houses. Place nest boxes facing morning sun and replace every few years.

Bees and other pollinators will also need water which is best provided in a very shallow dish or with rocks to prevent drowning.

For more information on our native bees, I recommend The Bees In Your Backyard by Joseph Wilson and Olivia Carril.

I also recommend:

• Xerces Society
• Chatham Mills “Pollinator Paradise” Garden by Debbie Roos
• Attracting Native Pollinators by the Xerces Society

ALL PHOTOS by Barbara Driscoll