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Garden Design for Beneficial Insects
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By Laurie Scott, Lab Supervisor/Land Manager, NorthWest Arkansas Community College
As the Earth warms and soil temperatures begin to rise, gardening minds turn to the tasks of spring. Many gardeners have already chosen the plants they will be starting from seed and have begun scouting out local plant sales, all while dreaming of the bees, butterflies, and birds that are certain to show up very soon! While dreaming of warm spring days, there are some early season tasks that can help our winged friends.
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Beekeeping and Wellness for Veterans
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By Sharon Schmidt, RN, Psy.D. - President of Cascade Girl organization, a non-profit whose mission is the survival of agricultural pollinators
“I’m kinda scared of them but they are so cool,” said the young woman in front of me. Attired in full beekeeping gear with jacket, headpiece and gloves, she looked like a real beekeeper, prepared for the task ahead. She and several other veterans who had completed the preparatory, online class were about to make their first contact with managed bees and join the ranks of Oregon beekeepers and pollinator aficionados. With all the buzzing and flying, adrenaline was running high and the task on this particular day was to simply tolerate it, watch and practice what they had learned. We were there to teach and support her.
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My Favorite Pollinator Plant
Submitted by BFG Member Cathy Shonk of Arkansas:
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“Being from Florida, I miss the huge hibiscus we grew in our gardens. Arkansas’ answer is their relative, the Rose of Sharon. I am not the only one in my yard fascinated with these beautiful blooming trees - the bees adore them! From tiny miner bees to giant carpenter bees, my trees hum from early spring to late fall. My favorite visitor is the hibiscus turret bee, who divides her day building her underground nest and flying around my Rose of Sharons collecting pollen.”
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Beautiful plant and happy bees! It’s wonderful when our members submit content that gets us all talking - thank you to Cathy for starting the conversation! Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), native to China and India, is not considered invasive in Arkansas where Cathy lives; however, like many plants, it may not be best suited for your area. In four states (KY, PA, TN, and VA) it is on the invasive list. The Rose of Sharon is considered a culturally significant plant, as it came along with early settlers, and is often a highly desired garden addition and is pollinated by insects and hummingbirds. Depending on where you live, there may be non-invasive alternatives. In Arkansas, four other native, perennial, white- to pink-flowered species of the genus Hibiscus occur: Scarlet rose mallow or swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), halberd-leaf rose mallow (H. laevis), woolly rose mallow (H. lasiocarpos), and rose mallow (H. moscheutos). Before introducing a new plant into your garden, be sure to research it and consider its effects and status in your region.
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Bee Friendly Gardening would love to know what your favorite pollinator plant is! Email BFG with a photo of your favorite pollinator plant from your garden and tell me why it is your favorite, and it just may be featured in a future newsletter column - My Favorite Pollinator Plant!
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Pre-Order the 2023 Pollinator Poster
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The moment we've all been waiting for is here! The 2023 Climate Change is in Our Hands Poster is now available for pre-order! Created by artist Carol Schwartz, this poster focuses on climate change and pollinators, and how there are “little things” that we can do as individuals to help fight climate change while supporting pollinators, the little creatures that do so much. Climate change is in our hands, and the little things we do each day can make a difference in the health of pollinators, people, and the planet. Pre-order yours today HERE.
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NAPPC Award Open for Nominations
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Pollinator Partnership is now accepting nominations for the NAPPC 2022-23 Pollinator Advocate Award. This award recognizes individuals and/or organizations efforts which have resulted in an increased awareness of the importance of pollination. Learn more and submit nominations by Friday, July 14th HERE.
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Check out our bookstore to get your own copy of the following!
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Prairie Up - An Introduction to Natural Garden Design by Benjamin Vogt
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Interested in swapping out part of your lawn in exchange for productive wildlife habitat? Here is the step by step guide you have been waiting for! "Beautiful photographs show a variety of climates and regions. Vogt explains in detail the desirable reasons to have a prairie landscape [...and] gives gardeners a thorough look into what it takes to create a prairie landscape and revive natural diversity." -- Library Journal starred review
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The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman
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This book provides essential ecological gardening principles and best practices for selecting native plants that attract and support pollinators - from bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, flies and even bats. "Leave it to Kim Eierman to come up with a unique call to action - one that worked in the past when our society was threatened by war, and one that will work again to defeat the very real threat of pollinator declines.
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Kim has thought of everything with a truly comprehensive guide to improving the lot of our pollinators at home. Make a Pollinator Victory Garden and join the effort to save our most essential creatures!"—Dr. Douglas Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home and Nature's Best Hope
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The Bee-Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn
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This text provides everything you need to know to create a dazzling garden that helps both the threatened honey bee and our own native bees. No matter how small or large your space, just a few simple changes can support threatened bee populations. "This book will make bees happy and healthy in gardens across the country." --Laurie Davies Adams, Director of Programs for Pollinator Partnership
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A Northern Gardener's Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes and Upper Midwest by Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla
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With many pollinators threatened, gardeners can make a real difference by planting native species that support these amazing creatures. If you’re a gardener (or aspiring gardener) in the northern US, this beautiful 4-color guide will become your go-to reference to the most beneficial plants in your area. "A glorious manifesto...Profusely illustrated, it highlights dozens of pollinator-worthy flowering plants for home and community gardens.
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An encyclopedic but highly accessible book that belongs with every gardener and naturalist." —Stephen Buchmann, author of The Reason for Flowers and What a Bee Knows
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April - National Gardening Month + Earth Month
April 22 - Earth Day
May - Water Month
May 6 - National Start Seeing Monarchs Day
May 12 - Public Gardens Day
May 14 - Mother’s Day
May 16 - National Love a Tree Day
May 19 - World Plant a Vegetable Garden Day
May 19 - Endangered Species Day
May 20 - World Bee Day
June 19-25 - Pollinator Week
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Brought to you by BFG - be a part of the Bee Friendly movement!
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