Pollinator Garden
Table of Contents
Introduction
Pollinators come in many forms, even some we might not think about: bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, birds, and bats. Pollinator gardens provide these important species with adequate food, and sometimes other resources too like shelter, water, and nesting materials like tall blades of grass or a bare mud patch for nest builders to build with.
Meadow and prairie gardens change year round as the wildflowers bloom, die, and are replaced by others. Some mowing may be needed, but we suggest a push real mower or a scythe to reduce harm to the garden and animals living in it. Farmers for Monarchs gives this advice for mowing a Monarch habitat so as not to kill your pollinators.
Key Species
Wildflowers
Wildflowers encompass many plants species from tiny duckweed flowers which can't be seen with the naked eye to massive trees.
Always try to match local natives to your landscape which are appropriate for the area. These are the best for providing food and shelter to native pollinators, while imported species or aggressive invasives can actually push out beneficial plants sometimes without even being edible or useful to the local wildlife.
Even if you don't see any pollinators in your garden now. Wildflowers provide the basis for their food chain and some provide protection and nutrients to their offspring. Much like protected bike lanes placed in a spot where few people are willing to ride, wildflowers are among those things that "if you provide them, they will come". Scientists have determined that even a
Click the Wildflower button to find our wildflower resources. They include guides and apps to help you find the right species for your area, seed swaps, and other methods of obtaining seeds, cuttings, or plants.
We also have a Monarchs page which has a growing listing of monarch networks, advice on how to create a habitat for them, how to help scientists monitor them, garden certification programs, and more useful info.
Apps & Tools
Bee Score: Flower Finder "Select the flowers you have in your garden, then hit continue to find out your current bee kind score. If you’re not sure exactly which plants you have, try clicking the filters on and off to help identify the bee-friendly flowers in your garden." This is hosted by and for UK residents, so you won't get a bonus for "native species" if you live outside the UK, and might see your local natives listed as "non-native" or get an "invasive penalty" even if those plants are fine where you live, but this is still a fun and educational resource.
Europe
UK
Bee Score: Flower Finder "Select the flowers you have in your garden, then hit continue to find out your current bee kind score. If you’re not sure exactly which plants you have, try clicking the filters on and off to help identify the bee-friendly flowers in your garden." This is hosted by and for UK residents, so you won't get a bonus for "native species" if you live outside the UK, and might see your local natives listed as "non-native" or get an "invasive penalty" even if those plants are fine where you live, but this is still a fun and educational resource.
Guides
Support Pollinator: DIY Habitat Manual
Bee-Friendly Gardening
Autumn/Winter Garden Maintenance Guide "The autumn and winter months can be challenging for our hardworking pollinators, but we can all do something in our outdoor spaces to help bumblebees survive and thrive!
Download this guide to discover how you can create and protect potential hibernation spots for bumblebee queens, prepare for next year with some easy maintenance jobs and autumn/winter planting, and feed the bumblebees who do remain active over winter." The planting suggestions are specifically for UK residents, but could also work in other places. Just be careful to pick native plants whenever possible to avoid introducing anything invasive.
Community Gardens
Create A Community Greenspace (for Bumble Bees) "This guide offers support to community groups, housing associations, local authorities, schools and other organisations who want to develop a bumblebee-friendly greenspace within their community or local area.
It provides guidance on identifying your space, securing funding, designing and creating your space, and of course top tips for enjoying your new bumblebee haven as a community!" (PDFs available in English and Welsh/Cymraeg)
How-To: Seed Bombs
Make Your Own Bee-Friendly Seed Balls (PDF) be aware that the planting suggestions are specifically for UK residents, but could also work in other places. Just be careful to pick native plants whenever possible to avoid introducing anything invasive.
Nature-Friendly Gardening
Gardening for Nature Recovery Poster (PDF) "The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has teamed up with We Have The POWER to bring you these 11 simple actions you can take to support wildlife in your outdoor space – whether it is a window box, balcony, garden, or allotment or community green space."
Europe
UK
Create A Community Greenspace (for Bumble Bees) "This guide offers support to community groups, housing associations, local authorities, schools and other organisations who want to develop a bumblebee-friendly greenspace within their community or local area.
It provides guidance on identifying your space, securing funding, designing and creating your space, and of course top tips for enjoying your new bumblebee haven as a community!" (PDFs available in English and Welsh/Cymraeg)
North America
Oceana
Australia
Powerful Pollinators "is a program designed to increase the prevalence, health and diversity of pollinators in the landscape. The program encourages the strategic planting of ‘trees for bees’ and other pollinators and provides Powerful Pollinators Planting Guides developed by experienced botanists and field ecologists for use by landholders.
The Guides specify relevant information about pollinator habitat and floral resources to enable users such as land managers, Landcare groups, nurseries and gardeners to select the most appropriate indigenous species that provide value for pollinators."
Pollinator Garden Networks & Programs
North America
Bee City USA® and Bee Campus USA work to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators, in particular the more than 3,600 species of native bees in this country, by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides. Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA are initiatives of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Pollinator Pathways you can register your garden or pollinator pathway project, sharing maps and photos. The site also offers resources including plant lists, eco-region info, etc.
Canada
USA
Oregon
Pollinator Parkways helps bees and other pollinators in the Portland, Oregon area, but the instructions work well for the Pacific Northwest in general.
Groups
Europe
UK
Butterfly Conservancy "Butterflies and moths are sensitive indicators of the health of our environment. Find out how you can help them."
North America
Canada
Pollinator Partnership Canada " is a registered charity dedicated to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems through conservation, education, and research."
North America
USA
Wild Ones "promotes native landscapes through education, advocacy, and collaborative action."
Minnesota
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization "works to protect and improve water quality, habitat and natural resources in an urban watershed that drains directly into the Mississippi River. We are a joint-powers local government unit and one of approximately three dozen watershed organizations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area."
Oregon
"Montavilla Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon"
Maps
International
Butterfly Conservation: Wild Spaces: Put Your Wild Space on the Map "Our interactive map shows the number and types of Wild Space near you. When you sign up in the UK, your Wild Space will also appear on the map so you can show everyone that you're taking action and encourage others to get involved too."
Europe
UK
Butterfly Conservation: Wild Spaces: Put Your Wild Space on the Map "Our interactive map shows the number and types of Wild Space near you. When you sign up in the UK, your Wild Space will also appear on the map so you can show everyone that you're taking action and encourage others to get involved too."
Grants & Funding
Europe
UK
National award schemes There are a number of key organisations offering grants and advice to community based projects e.g.
Big Lottery Fund "Groups can apply to us for funding under £20,000, or over £20,001, depending on what they want to do."
Heritage Fund "We fund projects of all sizes that connect people and communities to the UK’s heritage."
Grow Wild UK "Bringing people together to value and enjoy wildflowers and fungi"
Oceana
Australia
Western Australia
Native Plant Subsidy "Native plants provide natural food sources and shelter for native animals, are water wise and can help cool your home naturally. To help you create a waterwise garden, the City of Cockburn offers native plant subsidies to both residents and schools."