Planting for Pollinators
Planting for Pollinators
If you really want to make your garden thrive, and help the environment, one of the best things you can do is attract and support pollinators in your yard. Whether you’re gardening on a balcony or have a massive garden, planting pollinator-friendly plants is easy
Bees
Bees need nectar and pollen for food. They love bright colours and lots of fragrance, and the closer together, the better. Big flower beds and flowering borders are bee heaven. Bees love blue, violet, purple, white and yellow and they adore single blooming flowers.
Suggested plantings for bees:
Flowers: Hollyhock, alyssum, foxglove, candytuft, bee balm, liatris, daisy, snapdragon, columbine, aster and zinnia.
Herbs: Thyme, oregano, lavender, mint, catnip, rosemary, mint and borage.
They also love blossoms like lilac, honeysuckle, apple, cherry, chokecherry and saskatoon berry.
Butterflies
To attract butterflies, you need to attract adult butterflies with nectar, and provide a good place for them to rest and lay their eggs.
Butterflies love red, orange, yellow, purple and pink flowers and like bees, they like single blooming flowers. They love the sun, and rocky places where they can settle. They also like protection, like shrubs and tall grasses to lay their eggs.
Flowers: Azalea, bee balm, columbine, dianthus, echinacea, foxglove, hyssop, marigold, milkweed, phlox, salvia and snapdragon, sweet pea and zinnia.
Hummingbirds
These tiny birds need a source of nectar and water. The ruby-throated hummingbird is found in Saskatchewan, and it’s a thrill to have one visit your garden. To attract them, place a hummingbird feeder with sugar water in your yard. You should also entice them with plants they love, including petunia, bee balm, columbine (especially red), hollyhock, foxglove, dahlia, begonia and fuschia.