A pollinator garden is planted mainly with plants that provide food and/or shelter for bees, butterflies, moths, and birds - animals that pollinate flowers. Pollinators are essential to a healthy ecosystem. One out of every three bites of food we eat is there because of pollinators!
The plants in this front bed are planted with pollinators in mind. Most of them are drought tolerant perennials that bloom throughout the growing season. We never spray with pesticides or herbicides.
- Vinca: Vinca is a fast growing, heat loving annual that attracts bees and butterflies.
- Dwarf Crepe Myrtle: Dwarf Crepe Myrtle provides pollen and nectar for bees.
- Frost Weed: Frost Weed provides nectar, and is a favorite of migrating monarch butterflies. *During the first freeze of the year, it exudes water from it's stem and creates interesting ice sculptures, hence it's name.
- Angelonia: Angelonia provides nectar, and is a host plant for the buckeye butterfly. *A host plant is a plant where butterflies or moths lay their eggs. The caterpillars then eat the leaves, grow, and form a chrysalis or cocoon, transforming into an adult butterfly or moth.
- Zexmenia: Zexminia provides nectar and pollen, and is a host plant for the bordered patch butterfly.
- Purple Coneflower: Purple Coneflower provides nectar, pollen, and seeds for birds. Its stems provide nest sites for cavity nesting bees and hibernating spots for the winter.
- Snapdragon: Snapdragon provides nectar and pollen, and is a host plant for the buckeye butterfly.
- Gregg's Mist Flower: Gregg's Mist Flower provides nectar. It is a fall favorite of numerous butterflies, super easy to grow, and easy to pull up if it spreads more than desired.
- Zinnia: Zinnia provide nectar and pollen. It is easy to grow from seeds and comes in several different types of colors and heights.
- Henry Duelberg Salvia: Henry Duelberg Salvia (a variety of mealy cup sage) provides nectar and pollen.