I originally published this article in 2022. Enjoy!
Have you ever gotten a puppy or kitten?
Chances are, you did a few things to get your home ready:
Bought special food… Stocked up on toys… Rolled up rugs… Shut bathroom doors, so Buddy (or Mittens) didn’t turn your toilet paper rolls into New Year’s Eve confetti…
The point is, you made a few, small tweaks, so your home was safe and welcoming for your furry friend.
The same is true for pollinators.
You can make your garden MUCH more welcoming for bees and butterflies with just a few, small tweaks.
For example:
- Plant flowers that bloom in the early spring and fall, as well as the summer. You’ll give pollinators nectar and pollen when it’s hard to find.
- Wait to clean up your garden until the spring—yep, put your feet back and relax in the fall. You’ll give your pollinators a safe place to spend the winter.
- Skip using landscape fabrics (aka, weed barriers). They make it hard for bees to nest in the ground. Not to mention, they break down over time, and weed seeds can still get in.
Here are 10 simple ways to make your garden a 5-star destination for bees and butterflies.
Of course, even if you’re diligent, puppies and kittens can leave their mark on your home.
Many of us have chew marks on a coffee table or scratch marks on a sofa to prove it.
Or both.
(Ahem.)
The idea of having a perfect home goes out the window with furry friends.
It helps to have similar expectations with pollinators.
If you want to create a garden where they can thrive (and we’re on Team You if you do!), then know that they may leave their mark.
For example, some bees—known as leafcutter bees—will cut round holes in plant leaves. They use these leaf parts to make little nurseries for their baby bees. The holes typically don’t harm your plants. They’re just cosmetic.
Butterflies have babies—caterpillars—that may chow down on certain plants like hungry-hungry hippos.
Yep, whether you’re welcoming a puppy or kitten… or a bee or a butterfly… there’s often a wee bit of chaos that comes with it.
So, why not let go of flower garden perfection?
Embrace the perfectly imperfect.
And pat yourself on the back that you’re creating an amazing home for pollinators.
Related topics that my interest you:
- “How do I attract bees and butterflies to my garden?”
- Creating a native pollinator garden in Colorado | Practical tips
- 5 flower garden trends to inspire your garden (in Colorado, Utah and the West)
