Happy National Pollinator Week, June 21-27! All this week (and everyday the rest of the year), let’s celebrate our peppy pollinators and all that they do. Without them, many flowers, trees, fruits, veggies, and other plants would be in serious trouble! Did you know that 80 percent of the world’s crops require pollination to set seed? And many, many pollinators are in decline due to the use of pesticides and to habitat loss. We must take care of these little guys, who in turn are OUR caretakers.
For more information on pollinators and this special dedication week, be sure to visit Pollinator Partnership.
I for one love to use this week’s dedication to go out and buy a new plant for our pollinators. What will it be? A new caterpillar larval host plant for the butterflies? A bee’s favorite bush? A new hummingbird plant? I’ll let you know!
Let’s give a cheer for… butterflies!
Bees!
Hummingbirds!
Hoverflies!
Bats, geckos, opossums, beetles, wasps, flies, and more!
Some of my favorite plants for pollinators include Purple Coneflower, Milkweed, Greg’s Mistflower, Cardinal Flower, any number of Salvias, Mealy Blue Sage, Firebush, Goldenball Leadtree, Kidneywood, Texas Lantana, Sunflower, Pumpkins and Squashes, and oh so many more. Think native when you can, and stay organic! Pesticides kill the GOOD guys, too — not just the bad ones.
Speaking of sunflowers, the Cinnamon Sun is taller than ever — now past the roof’s edge of our house. It is threatening to burst out with blooms any day now.
Don’t forget about putting out a bee box for our solitary native bees to show we love them!
Meredith
This is a beautiful post… I can see why it’s a ‘most visited’ on Blotanical!
You’ve captured the greatest pleasure of gardening as far as I’m concerned: all those visits by butterflies, hummers and other birds. Have always found my gardens reminiscent of Chicago’s O’Hare field when it comes to all the bees;-)
Cheers,
Alice
aka Bay Area Tendrils
(Really cool that your site has the choice to remember personal info; that’s a great feature.)
Alice, you are so kind! And yes, all those beautiful animals that pollinate our plants are such a joy to watch and experience. I had more bees last year with the giant pumpkin flowers, but they are still around and visit from time to time. I bet they are waiting for the Kidneywood to bloom!
I saw your blog at Blotanical. Wow, stunning photos of butterflies and bee! Beautiful garden 🙂
Thank you so much, Priscilla. I just visited your blog — your garden is beautiful, too!
Thanks for this post.
I used to make orchard mason bee blocks and this article reminded me to start up again!
Fougères at VerdantSanctuary.blogspot.com
Ooh, do share a picture of the bee blocks when you do! Thanks for visiting, Fougères!