A little help for our friends...
They need our help...
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Albert Einstein is often quoted as saying, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”
Einstein's words may paint a bleak picture, but our pollinator friends do need our help.
The number of pollinators, especially bees, is noticeably on the decline. While the cause is still unclear, loss of habitat is thought to be a major contributor.
Thankfully, there are things we can do. We can help provide food, water, and shelter so that pollinators can thrive. We can limit our use of pesticides and adjust our landscape management to help keep them safe. And most importantly of all, we can respect our shared spaces and enjoy a pollinator friendly world.
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Explore this page further for more specific ways that you can care for pollinators.
What you can do
Food
Planting flowers is one of the easiest ways to help pollinators. Even a small container garden or window box can make a big difference. When shopping, look for symbols like the ones below to indicate that the variety attracts pollinators.
To learn more about planting for pollinators, try our interactive training located on the Activities page!
Water
Bees and butterflies need water just like we do. Visit our Activities page to learn how to build a watering station for your garden.
Shelter
When the first days of nice weather start to hint at spring's arrival it can be hard to resist the urge to jump into your garden. But for the sake of pollinators it's important to wait a little bit longer. The leaves and debris are actually winter habitat and home to our pollinator friends. Until the temperature is consistently above 50 degrees, you are potentially throwing away the bees, butterflies, and other helpful insects you will want in your garden all summer.
There are many ways that you can provide a home for pollinators, most are inexpensive or even free.
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Leave patches of bare ground for ground nesting bees.
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Leave a small patch of leaf debris for bees and butterflies.
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Build your own bee and/or butterfly house! There are many, many design inspirations posted on Pinterest and with a little creativity you are sure to find one that fits perfectly with your garden. Some common materials to use include: bricks, hollow tubes, or wood with drilled holes.
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Buy a commercial bee or butterfly house.
Keep them safe
The chemicals that are used to manage weeds and pests can be harmful to pollinators. Where possible, go organic or use natural controls. Ladybugs and dragonflies are great at attacking pests like mosquitos and aphids. If you have to spray, try to time the application to the times of day that pollinators are less active.