As gardeners, we already know that insects play a vital role in our environment. Granted, some of them do cause damage, but even then, some chewed leaves are a small price to pay when we consider the bigger picture. If we want butterflies, for instance, then we accept that we’ll have caterpillars feeding on our plants too. We also know that accepting some pest insects provides a steady food supply for the “good guys” who help to keep the plant-eaters in check.

The latest buzz in the gardening world is the issue of protecting the insects that pollinate the plants we depend on for food. “Pollinators are necessary for three-quarters of our major food crops, but worldwide, pollinator populations are shrinking,” points out Connie Schmotzer, horticulture educator for Penn State Cooperative Extension (York County) and head of Pennsylvania’s Master Gardener pollinator garden certification program. “The good news is that we gardeners can help by planting an abundance of native plants rich in pollen and nectar in our yards.” Having a good reason to add even more plants to our gardens is something we can all get behind!

We’ve heard about the decline in honeybee populations, but the threats to native bees, which are also vitally important pollinators, tend to get far less attention. One thing you may have seen for sale recently are “bee hotels”—open-sided boxes filled with reeds, drilled blocks, and other materials meant to provide nesting sites for various kinds of native bees. Be aware, though, that some are constructed more for looks than for appropriate habitat, and that even correctly made bee hotels require careful siting and regular maintenance to provide a suitable and safe nesting place for native bee species. Before adding a bee hotel to your garden, check out Get to Know Wild Bee Hotels from New York-based The Honeybee Conservancy. You may decide to try bee-friendly techniques instead (or as well), such as changing your mulching habits and creating brush piles. You can learn more about these and other steps from the Xerces Society at Bring Back the Pollinators: 5 Ways to Increase Nesting Habitat for Native Bees.

Whatever steps you take to be part of the pollinator-protector community, consider sharing the word about your commitment. There are both local and national programs that aim to raise awareness about pollinator-friendly gardening and keep track of what folks are doing to help. For some, such as the National Pollinator Garden Network’s Million Pollinator Garden Challenge and the Xerces Society’s Bring Back the Pollinators Campaign, it’s as simple as being informed about pollinator-related issues and signing an online pledge. Prepared to make a more in-depth commitment? If you live in Pennsylvania, consider getting your garden certified through the Penn State Master Gardeners’ Pollinator-Friendly Garden Program.

Once you register or certify with a pollinator-partner program, think about getting a sign to display in your garden. It’s a great way to spark conversation with visitors and neighbors who may not know how important these tiny creatures are to the well-being of us all.

—Nancy J. Ondra is the author of over fifteen books, including Grasses, The Perennial Care Manual, and The Perennial Matchmaker.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Bee Watering Station with Vivid Flower Design

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Thoughtful Combo: You will receive a bee feeder and 30 glass marbles. This thoughtful combo can provide clean water for the bees, you just need to put the marbles into the bee watering station, add water (note: the water level should not exceed the height of the marbles) and hang them in the right place. The round, colored marbles can provide a place for the bees to stand and prevent them from falling into the water, effectively keeping the bees safe. Fine Material: This exquisite bee bath is made of high quality iron material, smooth surface, rust and weather resistant, not easy to fade, sturdy and reliable. Bee cups for garden can well meet the drinking water needs of lovely bees, and it can also provide food for bees, such as sugar water, nectar, etc., attracting more bees to your outdoor area and making your garden full of vitality. Perfect Size: The butterfly watering station has an overall height of 13.4 inches, a bowl diameter of 9.4 inches, and a weight of 0.44 pounds. The bee cup serves the needs of the bees well without plunging them into dangerously deep water or taking up unnecessary space in your garden, and this compact and efficient design makes it a practical addition to any outdoor space. Elegant Design: Our bee watering cups are designed in unique flower shapes with vibrant and realistic colours to attract lovely bees to your garden and patio, bee feeders for outside are not only functional but can also be used as a landscaping element, their vibrant floral patterns enhance the beauty of your garden. Multicolored Decoration: Colorful bee water stations look like flowers in a garden, flower bed or pot and attract bees and butterflies. They can drink or bathe in bee feeders, which are highly decorative and practical.

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Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control

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This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.

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Wagner's 52003 Classic Blend Wild Bird Food, 6-Pound Bag

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Classic wild bird food uses the highest quality grains to attract backyard wild Birds. A high-quality mix containing Millet, milo, cracked corn and Sunflower for a wide range of wild birds to enjoy. Perfect for tube, hopper, or platform feeders. Great to feed in all seasons! Perfect for the winter, when seeds are scarce; spring and summer for hatchlings; and autumn to give energy to migrating birds. This seed will help you fill your yard with birds such as Jays, cardinals, doves, Juncos, finches, goosebeaks, any many more.

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