The Power of Pollinators: Spring & Summer Edition đ¸đ
Last fall, I shared the story of bees flocking to my market booth, drawn to the elderberry syrup on display. That eye-opening experience, coupled with a farmerâs explanation of how a cold snap had left the bees desperate for food, sparked a lot of thought about supporting pollinators during the colder months.
But the truth is, their struggle doesn't end with winter. Spring and summer bring new challengesâand new opportunities to support our tiny, essential workers. With the warmer months upon us, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are at their busiest. They're out there doing the heavy lifting of pollinating crops, flowers, and wild plants that we depend on for food and biodiversity.
But as the weather warms, threats to pollinators remain. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and fluctuating temperatures still take their toll. So how can we help them thrive throughout the spring and summer? Here are a few simple, impactful ways to support our pollinator friends during their most active seasons.
1. Plant a Variety of Blooms đˇ
Diverse gardens provide a continuous food supply for pollinators throughout the growing season. Unlike fall, when late-bloomers like goldenrod and asters are essential, spring and summer are all about variety. Bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds benefit from having a wide range of flowers to visit.
How to Help: Planting a mix of native wildflowers and flowering herbs like lavender, thyme, and borage can create a rich, reliable food source. Pollinators love clusters of blooms, so plant in bunches whenever possible. A little effort goes a long wayâespecially if you opt for organic, pesticide-free plants.
2. Provide Water Sources đ§
Water is essential for pollinators, especially during hot, dry spells. Bees need water to cool their hives and feed their young. Butterflies, meanwhile, gather vital nutrients from damp soil or shallow water.
How to Help: Set out shallow dishes of water filled with pebbles or marbles for safe landing spots. Changing the water regularly prevents mosquitoes from making themselves at home.
3. Create Safe Spaces đĄ
Spring is the season of renewal, but itâs also a time when pollinators are working to establish nests and lay eggs. Unfortunately, many lose their natural nesting sites to urban development and overly manicured lawns.
How to Help: Consider adding a bee hotel or leaving undisturbed patches of bare soil for ground-nesting bees. Flowering shrubs and trees are also fantastic food sources and shelter for various pollinators.
4. Be Mindful of Lawn Care đ
It's tempting to tidy up our outdoor spaces during spring cleaning, but overly neat yards can leave pollinators without crucial habitat.
How to Help: Skip the pesticides, leave a few patches of clover or wildflowers, and consider letting some areas of your yard grow a bit wilder. These unmanicured spaces offer shelter, food, and nesting areas for beneficial insects. If you absolutely must tidy the yard, minimally leave the tidying until after Mother's Day.
5. Shop & Plant Locally đą
Supporting local growers not only boosts your communityâs economy but also encourages the cultivation of native plants that pollinators are adapted to. When choosing seeds or plants for your garden, opting for native varieties can make a huge difference.
How to Help: I source my seeds from Sow True Seed, a local company dedicated to preserving regional biodiversity. By choosing local sources, weâre keeping supply chains short, supporting regional agriculture, and providing the kind of habitat native pollinators truly need.
Why It Matters
Pollinators are responsible for pollinating around 75% of the crops we eat and countless wild plants. When we lose them, itâs not just flowers that sufferâitâs entire ecosystems, food systems, and livelihoods. By making thoughtful choices throughout the warmer months, weâre giving these essential creatures the resources they need to thrive.
So, as the flowers bloom and bees buzz, letâs celebrate the magic of pollinators and do what we can to support them. Whether itâs planting a wildflower patch, setting out a bee hotel, or simply skipping the pesticides, each small effort helps keep our world buzzing.
Want to dig deeper into supporting pollinators? Stay tuned for more tips and stories from Brew Naturals, where sustainability is a year-round commitment.
