BEE CONNECTION
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Pollinator Garden Fundraiser
Thank you Stadler Nursery! The Bee Connection has partnered with Stadler's to raise funds that will be put towards the installation of pollinator gardens, from the proceeds generated by your purchase of a Pollinator Garden Pot ($39.99, pictured left).
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Flower assortment currently available includes:
Coreopsis 'Gold and Bronze',
Asclepias tuberosa 'Butterfly Weed', and
Aster dumosus 'Wood's Blue'.
Within these “pollinator pots”, the coreopsis is currently blooming, with the asclepias following soon, and the asters will bloom in the fall. More about each of these flowers below!
Upon purchase, your order will be sent to Stadler’s Nursery in Frederick, MD and will be available for your pick up.
Coreopsis 'Gold and Bronze' - This variety has large golden-yellow flowers with a prominent bronze-red eye on compact 14"-16" tall foliage. Blooms late spring to late summer. Deadheading encourages new blooms and helps keep plants tidy. It likes full sun and attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and is a native cultivar.
Asclepias tuberosa 'Butterfly Weed' - A pollinator favorite! Likes full sun and has brilliant orange blooms atop foliage that grows 1'-2'. Blooms emerge in late spring and continue for several weeks. Cut the flower stems before they go to seed to enjoy a second round of blooms. A native and Perennial Plant of the Year in 2017.
Aster dumosus 'Wood's Blue' - Clear blue daisy flowers with golden centers bloom on dark green foliage that grows 12" tall. They enjoy full to part sun and bloom 4-6 weeks in August and September. A native cultivar.
Coreopsis 'Gold and Bronze' - This variety has large golden-yellow flowers with a prominent bronze-red eye on compact 14"-16" tall foliage. Blooms late spring to late summer. Deadheading encourages new blooms and helps keep plants tidy. It likes full sun and attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and is a native cultivar.
Asclepias tuberosa 'Butterfly Weed' - A pollinator favorite! Likes full sun and has brilliant orange blooms atop foliage that grows 1'-2'. Blooms emerge in late spring and continue for several weeks. Cut the flower stems before they go to seed to enjoy a second round of blooms. A native and Perennial Plant of the Year in 2017.
Aster dumosus 'Wood's Blue' - Clear blue daisy flowers with golden centers bloom on dark green foliage that grows 12" tall. They enjoy full to part sun and bloom 4-6 weeks in August and September. A native cultivar.
Coreopsis 'Gold and Bronze' - This variety has large golden-yellow flowers with a prominent bronze-red eye on compact 14"-16" tall foliage. Blooms late spring to late summer. Deadheading encourages new blooms and helps keep plants tidy. It likes full sun and attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and is a native cultivar.
Asclepias tuberosa 'Butterfly Weed' - A pollinator favorite! Likes full sun and has brilliant orange blooms atop foliage that grows 1'-2'. Blooms emerge in late spring and continue for several weeks. Cut the flower stems before they go to seed to enjoy a second round of blooms. A native and Perennial Plant of the Year in 2017.
Aster dumosus 'Wood's Blue' - Clear blue daisy flowers with golden centers bloom on dark green foliage that grows 12" tall. They enjoy full to part sun and bloom 4-6 weeks in August and September. A native cultivar.
More about pollinator gardens...
Pollinator Gardens provide food, water, and potentially shelter for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and more.
Tips and guidelines for designing your pollinator garden are listed below and have been provided by Pollinator Partnership and NAPPC's Ecoregional Planting Guides. Their detailed resources have been utilized in Bee Connection’s work with local nurseries to provide effective pollinator resources for our region.
Most pollinators have very small home ranges. You can increase the number of pollinators in your area by making conscious choices to include plants that provide essential habitat for bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Flowers provide nectar (high in sugar and necessary amino acids) and pollen (high in protein) to pollinators. Fermenting fallen fruits also provide food for bees, beetles and butterflies. Specific plants, known as host plants, are eaten by the larvae of pollinators such as butterflies.
Plant in groups to increase pollination efficiency. If a pollinator can visit the same type of flower over and over, it doesn’t have to relearn how to enter the flower and can transfer pollen to the same species, instead of squandering the pollen on unreceptive flowers.
Plant with bloom season in mind, providing food from early spring to late fall.
Plant a diversity of plants to support a variety of pollinators.
Flowers of different color, fragrance, and season of bloom on plants of different heights will attract different pollinator species and provide pollen and nectar throughout the seasons.
Many herbs and annuals, although not native, are very good for pollinators. Mint, oregano, garlic, chives, parsley and lavender are just a few herbs that can be planted. Old fashioned zinnias, cosmos, and single sunflowers support bees and butterflies.
Recognize weeds that might be a good source of food. For example, dandelions provide nectar in the early spring before other flowers open. Plantain is alternate host for the Baltimore Checkerspot.
Learn and utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to address pest concerns. Minimize or eliminate the use of pesticides.
Incorporate different canopy layers in the landscape by planting trees, shrubs, and different-sized perennial plants.
Build bee boxes to encourage solitary, non-aggressive bees to nest on your property.
A clean, reliable source of water is essential to pollinators.
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Check out our Collaborators and Sponsors Page for local resources for your own Pollinator Garden! Email us if you'd like help with set up and management!