COLUMN: Planting for pollinators

     With planting season in full swing I encourage everyone to “plant for pollinators.” From native bees and butterflies to honey bees and hummingbirds, by planting for pollinators you not only make your home and community beautiful, but you provide critical habitat for declining, threatened and endangered insect species.

     Planting for pollinators is easy. Simply take a close look at the habitat on your property and be aware of areas you can improve to help support our pollinators. Work to protect flowering plants and important habitat you already have on your property and limit potential pesticide exposure. Enhance areas that might offer little for pollinators by planting flowers and flowering trees and shrubs and adding possible nesting sites for pollinators to take shelter.

     In town, pollinator plantings can be located in designated landscaped areas, planters and pots on your deck or patio, hanging flower baskets, or flowering shrubs and trees. In rural areas, riparian buffer strips, set-aside acres, hedgerows and windbreaks, temporary bee pastures, ponds and ditches, field and road borders, cover crops, and garden areas all have the potential to offer possible plantings for pollinators. Every little bit helps!

     A few recommended flower species, with bloom times ranging from spring through fall, include pasque flowers, shooting star, coral bell, violets, wild geranium, columbine, harebell, blazing star, wild bergamot, jewelweed, butterfly milkweed, swamp milkweed, purple prairie clover, pale purple coneflower, ironweed, stiff goldenrod, and New England aster. Trees and shrubs preferred by pollinators include prairie fire crabapples, basswood trees, black cherry trees, apple trees, wild plums, dogwoods, elderberries, nannyberry, serviceberry, and buttonbush.

     A few great websites to visit for more information on planting for pollinators include the ISU Extension site at http://www.nrem.iastate.edu/wildlife/landscaping-wildlife,

the USDA/NRCS site at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/farmers/, and the Xerces Society website at https://xerces.org/bumblebees/.

     I hope you “plant for pollinators” this spring and take the time to enjoy and appreciate who buzzes, flutters, floats, and zips around you.