The University of Maine Cooperative Extension blog has a good post up on pollinator-friendly gardening practices, I just wish they’d included a list of plants in the blog post, but they do refer to a publication which can be downloaded as a PDF file, Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing Their Habitat in Maine.
Speaking of nectar-eaters, yesterday I saw my first hummingbird in the garden, at my tulips, then at my feeder. I had put the hummingbird feeder out on Sunday evening. The Soloman’s Seal is about to bloom, the hummingbirds love that. Also just blooming, the Leopard’s Bane, a creeping sedge, and well in bloom now is the small leaf rhododendron in front, just buzzing with the bees.
May 14, 2008 at 6:21 pm
A hummingbird already? Summer must be on the way!
I wish I knew more about pollinators and plants that attract them. It’s so fun to watch a working flower garden.
May 15, 2008 at 9:09 am
Kathryn,
I haven’t read it yet, but Douglas Tallamy’s book, Bringing Nature Home, which I posted about here: http://henbogle.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/feed-the-bugs-and-the-birds-will-thrive/ might help you understand pollinators better.
It is on my summer reading list (as are at least 1,000 others) –I think I’ll need a longer summer!
May 19, 2008 at 8:01 am
Thank you for this post. I was planning on putting in marigolds (I’ve heard that it’s a good companion plant for tomatoes and such) and thought it would be great for bees too. I did not realize that marigolds actually aren’t great for bees… too many petals. Guess I’ll do some other flowers instead.
May 19, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Marigolds discourage root nematodes, so they are good too. Borage is great, but but be forewarned it is very prickly to touch!
May 22, 2008 at 1:37 am
I love when the bees are buzzing around and the hummers are swooping and sipping. We’ve had both around here for a couple weeks. And it just makes me smile to see them.
Enjoy!