Pollinator Friendly Plants

All of our bees need pollen and nectar from flowers. The sugars in sweet nectar power their flight; mother bees also imbibe some nectar to mix with pollen that they gather. Pollen is fortified with proteins, oils and minerals that are essential for the diets of their grub-like larvae back at the nest.

Our flower gardens can become valuable cafeterias for local populations of diverse native bees. In our cities and towns, native plant communities have been displaced by pavement, buildings and lawns. In the countryside, grain and hay crops likewise offer our native bees little food. Because bees find their favorite flowers by their color or scent, a bee garden can also be appealing to the homeowner. Many of these flowering species are surprisingly easy to grow.