Pollinator garden

A pollinator garden is designed around what insects and birds need, not just what looks good to us, though done well it manages both. The aim is a steady supply of nectar and pollen from early spring through fall.

A few things make one actually work: a sequence of plants so something is always in bloom, a backbone of regional natives that local pollinators recognize, plants grouped in clusters rather than dotted around, and no pesticide routine to undo the point of it.

The payoff goes past the wildlife. A yard that supports pollinators tends to be a more resilient, lower-input yard overall, and it pairs naturally with native planting — the same plant choices serve both goals.