|Coreopsis attracts small and large bees|
|"Cedar Lane' Lonicera sempervivens is a hummingbird magnet|
|Asclepias tuberosa is a magnet for bees and butterflies|
|Eastern Bluebirds eat insects|
|Hypericum frondosum attracts small and large bee.|
|Assassin bug waiting on a coreopsis|
| Insect nibbled petals of Echinacea purpurea don't deter pollinators|
|Liatris spicata attracts small and large bees and butterflies|
|Monarda fistulosa is a magnet for bees, hummingbird moths and hummers|
|Phlox paniculata and nectar robbing Carpenter Bee|
If you're a new gardener and want to create a pollinator friendly garden or want to add more pollinator friendly plants to your garden, I urge you to take time to figure out what plants make sense for your garden conditions. Invest in a good wildflower identification guide for your part of the country, join a native plant society and visit your local botanical garden and arboretum. If you are lucky enough to have garden centers that sell native plants shop there and not big box stores.
|Echinacea tennesseensis is endemic to Central Basin cedar glades|
|'Solar Eclipse' and 'Cherry Brandy' are two Rudbeckia hirta cultivars that attract pollinators to an early summer garden|
|Hydrangea arborescens is a pollinator friendly native shrub|
|Elymus hystrix is a host for the caterpillars of the Northern Pearly Eye butterfly and several moths|
|Stokesia laevis is a major butterfly, Bumblebee, hoverfly and beetle attractor|
|Pycnanthemum muticum attracts bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles|
- plant a lot of nectar and pollen producing plants, lots and lots; swathes work, so does repetition (Central Basin natives make sense in a Middle Tennessee garden)
- don't forget trees, shrubs and grasses in your garden plan
- plant host plants~so the offspring of butterfly, beetles and other pollinators can feed
- plan for bloom from late spring to early winter
- include water for bees
- provide nesting sites near your garden for a variety of visitors: Build a pollinator condo, leave some bare ground for earth nesting bees and pile decaying logs for beetles who like to tunnel.
- practice peaceful coexistence. Bees sometimes choose to nest in inconvenient places. Rather than exterminating them, think of it as an opportunity to watch and learn about them up close.
- take the pledge to never, ever, ever use pesticides in your garden. I really do mean never!
Happy Wildflower Wednesday.
Welcome to Clay and Limestone's Wildflower Wednesday celebration. I am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they are in bloom or not; and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants. It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave a comment when you add your url to Mr Linky.
Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.