What's a Pollinator Garden?
A pollinator garden is a garden with plants that pollinators like, for the purpose of attracting them.
pol·li·na·tor
/ˈpäləˌnādər/
noun
an insect or other agent that conveys pollen to a plant and so allows fertilization.
"bees are effective pollinators of fruit and vegetables"
(Basically, an insect that spreads pollen from plant to plant.)
(Oxford Languages - Last updated 2022)
Why are Pollinators so important?
Well, my friends, pollinators are very important because they help plants to grow and thrive. Without pollinators, most of the plants would die. Pollinators also help animals such as deer, squirrels, fish, and other wild animals to live.
When you think of a pollinator, bees or butterflies will probably come to mind. Here are some other examples. Some are pretty surprising!
Bees (examples include honeybees, worker bees, bumblebees, etc.)
Butterflies
Moths
Pollen Wasps
Ants
Flies, including bee flies and hoverflies
Flower Beetles
Lepidopterans (an order of insects including butterflies and moths)
Mosquitoes
Birds
Small mammals
Pollinator Fun Facts
Did you know bees can fly up to 15 miles and hour?
Bees have 5 eyes, and 6 legs!
Butterfly wings are transparent! (See-through)
Male bees are called drones, and females (who are not the queen) are called worker bees.
There are almost 20,000 butterfly species!
Bees have 2 sets of wings!
Butterflies taste with their feet, not with their mouths.
Butterflies have 4 wings!