#pollinatorgarden

[harmonyhealinghub]

Cultivating Ecosystem Harmony: The Best Flowers to Plant for Insects and the Environment Shaina Tranquilino April 6, 2024

In a world where biodiversity is increasingly threatened, every little action to support our ecosystems counts. One powerful way to make a positive impact is by planting flowers that not only beautify our surroundings but also serve as vital resources for insects and other creatures. As we delve into the realm of gardening, let's explore some of the best flowers to plant to foster a thriving ecosystem.

Understanding the Importance of Planting for Insects

Insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. They pollinate plants, decompose organic matter, and serve as a vital food source for various animals. However, habitat loss and pesticide use have led to a decline in insect populations worldwide. By choosing the right flowers for our gardens, we can provide essential resources for these beneficial insects, helping to sustain their populations and support overall biodiversity.

Top Flowers for Supporting Insects and the Environment

Lavender: Loved for its fragrant blooms and drought tolerance, lavender is a favourite among gardeners and insects alike. Bees are particularly drawn to its nectar-rich flowers, making it a valuable plant for pollinator gardens. Additionally, its aromatic foliage repels pests like mosquitoes and moths.

Sunflowers: With their towering stems and vibrant blooms, sunflowers are not only a sight to behold but also a magnet for pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and even birds flock to these cheerful flowers to collect nectar and seeds. Opt for native varieties to provide the most benefit to local wildlife.

Wild Bergamot (Bee Balm): As the name suggests, bee balm is a bee favourite, attracting a variety of pollinators with its colourful blooms. This native perennial not only adds beauty to the garden but also provides a valuable food source for bees and butterflies throughout the summer months.

Goldenrod: Often unfairly blamed for causing allergies (it's actually ragweed that's the culprit), goldenrod is a powerhouse of nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Its bright yellow flowers light up the late summer and early fall landscape while supporting diverse insect populations.

Echinacea (Coneflowers): Coneflowers, with their distinctive spiky centers and daisy-like petals, are not only visually striking but also highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Their sturdy stems and long-lasting blooms make them a low-maintenance addition to any garden.

Milkweed: No list of insect-friendly flowers would be complete without milkweed. As the sole host plant for monarch butterfly larvae, milkweed is essential for supporting declining monarch populations. Planting milkweed provides a critical habitat for monarchs to lay their eggs and nourishes caterpillars as they undergo metamorphosis.

Yarrow: Yarrow's flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers are a favourite among pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps. This drought-tolerant perennial is easy to grow and adds a delicate beauty to gardens while supporting local insect populations.

Tips for Creating an Insect-Friendly Garden

Choose Native Plants: Native plants are adapted to the local environment and provide the best resources for native insects. Research native species in your area and incorporate them into your garden.

Plant a Variety of Flowers: Different insects have different preferences, so aim for a diverse selection of flowers that bloom at different times throughout the growing season. This ensures a steady supply of nectar and pollen for pollinators.

Avoid Pesticides: Pesticides can harm beneficial insects along with pests. Instead of relying on chemicals, practice natural pest control methods and encourage a healthy balance of predators and prey in your garden.

Provide Shelter and Water: In addition to flowers, consider including other elements in your garden, such as shrubs, trees, and water features, to provide shelter, nesting sites, and sources of hydration for insects.

By planting flowers that support insects and the environment, we can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and create havens of beauty and life in our own backyards. Whether you have a sprawling garden or a small balcony, every patch of green can make a difference in nurturing our precious ecosystems. Let's cultivate harmony with nature, one flower at a time.

#EcoFriendlyGardening #BiodiversityConservation #PollinatorGarden #InsectFriendlyFlowers #NativePlanting #GardenForWildlife #SaveTheBees #ButterflyHabitat #SustainableGardening #PlantForThePlanet #WildlifeHabitat #NaturalPestControl #GrowNative #GreenThumb #FlowerPower #GardenForNature #SupportLocalWildlife #HarmonyWithNature #BackyardHabitat #FlowersForInsects #GardeningTips #EcosystemSupport #InsectSanctuary #Flowers #ConservationGardening #BeesLoveFlowers #Flower #Plants #Garden

[davidwfloydart]

We have a birdbath that the bees drink out of every day. Up to 50 bees at any one time. #beecare #bees🐝 #beehappy #naturelovers #pollinators🐝 #pollinatorgarden #tucsonarizona #desertlife (at Catalina Foothills, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfPNZnQpgJhXiaM5qzo1MUjmRAIniF3opVN_gE0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#beecare #bees🐝 #beehappy #naturelovers #pollinators🐝 #pollinatorgarden #tucsonarizona #desertlife

[iplantsman]

The beautiful Hebe ‘Conquest’ coming into #flower in the #iPlantsgarden. Big #flowers! #Hebe #Hebesoc #plants #Veronica #Shrubs #gardens #evergreenshrub #perth #scotland #gardening #pollinatorplants #pollinatorgarden #pollinator #bees #butterflies #beneficialinsects (at Perth, Perth and Kinross) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgMW7a2q38I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#flower #iplantsgarden #flowers #hebe #hebesoc #plants #veronica #shrubs #gardens #evergreenshrub #perth #scotland #gardening #pollinatorplants #pollinatorgarden #pollinator #bees #butterflies #beneficialinsects

[wdcgardener]

The bees are buzzing over this grouping of Allium Millenium in Chevy Chase, Md. #gardendc #dmv #flowersonfriday #flowerfriday #pollinators🐝 #pollinatorgarden #allium #alliummillenium #alliumflowers #picoftheday #nofilter (at Chevy Chase, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiASU1lOXuC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#gardendc #dmv #flowersonfriday #flowerfriday #pollinators🐝 #pollinatorgarden #allium #alliummillenium #alliumflowers #picoftheday #nofilter

[capecodartandnature]

Our echinacea (coneflower) is buzzing today! I love this plant. Not only is it lovely to look at but bees and birds love it. I dry leaves and flowers for tea, leave dead seed heads standing to feed goldfinches all fall and winter. I planted one plant about five years back and have seeded or transplanted to other spots. Great addition to any pollinator or flower or herb garden. #capecodgarden #coneflower #echinacea #flower #herb #pollinatorgarden #feedthepollinators #bees #happybees #nature #getoutside https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf4ErlWub-P/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#capecodgarden #coneflower #echinacea #flower #herb #pollinatorgarden #feedthepollinators #bees #happybees #nature #getoutside

[ravenrose666]

Señora life…👩🏻‍🌾 #HappyGardening #OrganicGrower #pollinatorgarden #summersolstice https://www.instagram.com/p/CfIHoMfsNM-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#happygardening #organicgrower #pollinatorgarden #summersolstice

[teenhelporg]

May is garden for wildlife month. Consider utilizing plants that are native to your location. This can help to encourage wildlife to pollinate, eat, rest, or nest in your garden!

#teenhelporg #teenhelpcalendar #teenhelp #gardenforwildlife #garden #wildlife #pollinatorgarden #pollinatorfriendly

[onlyishtar]

Lamp Flower 🍬

#rose campion #Lychnis coronaria #pollinatorplants #pollinatorgarden

[juliebarefootjewel]

Stokes Aster in all her glory. #ocalafoodforest #floridanativeplants #pollinatorgarden #purpleflowers #naturesbeauty https://www.instagram.com/p/CpDA64fOTHy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#ocalafoodforest #floridanativeplants #pollinatorgarden #purpleflowers #naturesbeauty

[thepurpleproseroom]

If one is good, then two are better. #writerswhogarden #christmas #pollinatorfriendly #pollinators🐝 #pollinators #pollinatorgarden https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl6zjPIug7h/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#writerswhogarden #christmas #pollinatorfriendly #pollinators🐝 #pollinators #pollinatorgarden

[birdsofvermont]

Fall is not all about reds, yellows, and orange. #aster #NewEnglandAster #PlantNative #pollinatorgarden #VermontByVermonters (at Birds of Vermont Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiqenjMPtlF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#aster #newenglandaster #plantnative #pollinatorgarden #vermontbyvermonters

[stephaniegwen]

Hello, fruitilary #butterflies #pollinatorgarden #walking #wildmagic #woodsandwater https://www.instagram.com/p/ChlXrwar7aS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#butterflies #pollinatorgarden #walking #wildmagic #woodsandwater

[davidwfloydart]

Thank you, Morgan! 🐝 🐝 🐝 #beekeeping #enviromentalist #beeconservation #beerlover #pollinatorgarden #pollinators🐝 #naturelover (at Catalina Foothills, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce35q9iJjwhJGpaLYMS7IF52siRJC1oGHUKVLU0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#beekeeping #enviromentalist #beeconservation #beerlover #pollinatorgarden #pollinators🐝 #naturelover

[cleanwaterchronicles]

The Monarch Butterflies Need Your Help

Monarch butterflies are the most recognizable and beloved butterflies in North and Central America. Millions of monarchs migrate across the United States; spending their summers in Michigan and winters in Mexico. Despite the small size of monarch butterflies and other insects, they play a very large role in human lives. Insects travel to flowering plants, drinking nectar, and transporting pollen. This results in a pollination service that is responsible for 1/3 of the world's food source.

Due to a loss of habitat, the eastern Monarch population has declined by 90%. Other pollinators are experiencing a decline as well. Bees, which pollinate one third of the world's food crops, have declined 50% in recent decades. However, these alarming declines have sparked conservation programs across the nation to take action. Efforts to protect pollinators and restore habitat have been rewarded with a steady increase in monarch populations over the last few years.

In 2014, President Obama announced the first comprehensive pollinator program ever created in the federal government. The Presidential Memorandum was a collaborative effort between organizations, agencies, and federal departments to raise awareness and provide assistance to pollinators.

Pollinator health begins with you. Join us in celebrating monarchs, bees, and all other pollinators by becoming aware and participating in the tremendous ongoing conservation efforts!

How You Can Help

There are many different ways for YOU to help monarchs and other important pollinators in Michigan!

Report your monarch sightings throughJourney North and Monarch Joint Venture.

Report your bee sightings through the Bee spotter and Bumble Bee Watch.

Learn how to help and stay up to date with the latest pollinator information - Michigan State University Extension

Learn about creating monarch habitat and planting native milkweed - Monarch Joint Venture

Six ways to save monarchs - National Wildlife Federation Blog

Citizen science: opportunities to study monarchs - Monarch Joint Venture

Make a donation to the Nongame Wildlife Fund

Michigan Pollinator Gardening Tips

Michigan Pollinator Gardening Tips (Accessible)

Kids and Teachers

Learn more about monarchs and other important pollinators with these activities and resources:

Learn how to help and stay up to date with the latest pollinator information - Michigan State University Extension

Teaching about the Magnificent Monarch - Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Learn about creating monarch habitat and planting native milkweed - Monarch Joint Venture

Citizen science: opportunities to study monarchs - Monarch Joint Venture

School Yard Habitats program through National Wildlife Federation

Monarch Butterfly Info

Learn more about the monarch butterfly with the following resources:

Monarch Conservation - Xerces Society

Monarch Watch

Insects & Pollinators - US Department of Agriculture

Save the Monarch Butterfly - US Fish & Wildlife Service

Monarch Joint Venture resources

Monarch Butterfly Conservation Webinar Series - US Fish & Wildlife Service

Bee - Informed

Did you know globally there are more than 20,000 species of bees and nearly 3,500 species within the United States? Check out the links below for more about bees!

Bumble Bee Conservation - Xerces Society

Reversing Pollinator Decline is Key to Feeding the Future - US Department of Agriculture Blog

Bumble Bee Watch

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee: proposed listing as an endangered species - US Fish & Wildlife Service

Conservation Projects

What's the buzz? Learn all about current projects helping pollinators.

Pollinator Partnership

Monarch Joint Venture Projects

Michigan's Managed Pollinator Protection Plan

Protecting pollinators with cooperative action - Michigan Farm News

Michigan Monarch Strategy

Source: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/education/michigan-species/insects/monarch

#environmental education #protectourplanet #environmentaleducation #pollinatorgarden #pollinators #pollination #monarchwaystation #monarch butterfly #milkweed #monarch caterpillar #monarchmichigan #monarchwatch #climatechange

[wdcgardener]

Happy #flowerfriday from this happy bee on a salvia at @meadowlarkbotanicalgardens in #vienna #va. #gardendc #dmv #salvia #publicgarden #pollinators🐝 #pollinatorgarden #picoftheday #nofilter (at Meadowlark Gardens Regional Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjIycQaOiEL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#flowerfriday #vienna #va #gardendc #dmv #salvia #publicgarden #pollinators🐝 #pollinatorgarden #picoftheday #nofilter

[capecodartandnature]

It’s always a good day for a butterfly pic. #easterntigerswallowtail #swallowtail #butterfly #summer #pollinator #pollinatorgarden #nature #getoutside https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch2o5FpOwdX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#easterntigerswallowtail #swallowtail #butterfly #summer #pollinator #pollinatorgarden #nature #getoutside