A garden without pollinators may have beautiful flowers on the vines but it will not set fruit. My first garden in Washington State suffered from a serious lack of pollinators. I would have vines and flowers and then nothing. It was fruitless (pun-get it?) and caused me a lot of sadness.
I knew since I was living in a subdivision I needed to amend my soil. What I forgot, was room for the pollinators. This lesson was learned when we were living in Maryland and a took tour of an Amish Community. By leaving out flowers my Washington Victory Garden had no bees, butterflies or hummingbirds. I realized (after my garden failed) that I had forgotten to attract my pollinators. My yard was very small and I didn’t want to “waste space” with flowers – so, my small garden did not thrive.
When my husband was in the military we moved A LOT! I used to joke that by the time I unpacked the last box and planted a tree we’d have new orders to move again. Usually, every 2 or 3 years we were packing our house and headed somewhere new. One of our shorter stays was to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. My husband was selected for a 6 month training that was taking place right after the 9/11 attack on New York and Washington D.C. It was my first chance to live on the East Coast and I had no idea that I would fall so deeply in love with New England and their practicality.
I grew up in Texas, and oddly enough, we were living close to family for once. I was so excited that we would be able to go to his training, that it didn’t even dawn on me that we would be moving very close to DC and NY (I have been accused of jumping before I think-so there’s that).
My husband left out first and I followed a couple of weeks later. I packed up the van with 3 kids, a pregnant cat, a rabbit and a bird and whatever I could stuff in (think Grapes of Wrath). The van was so packed that the only person who could put their feet down was me. My youngest, at the time, was in a car seat. To get her in and out of the car we had to unpack things around her, wedge her out, and then repack. My kids are such great travelers that we went from Texas to Maryland (just over 1500 miles) in 2 long days!
Our move was towards the end of the school year, so I opted to homeschool my then 6th and 8th graders because there SO MANY places to take field trips to in New England. Learning about history is so much more memorable when you can be on a boat in the Baltimore Harbor and see where Francis Scott Key penned the Star Spangled Banner while seeing Fort McHenry attacked. Tromping around Valley Forge in person and seeing the crack in the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia holds much more awe for me than simply reading it in a book.
One of our favorite field trips was to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and signing up for a guided Amish tour. Our tour of the Amish Country was given by a lovely Mennonite woman who was so kind and patient with our questions.
We had already lived in Germany, so the cleanliness of the area was not a surprise. What did astound me was the feeling of rolling back history and feeling peace. I drove and she guided us from Lancaster to Intercourse (yes, that’s the name of the village). It was amazing to see the sky become bluer and the air cleaner in just a few miles as we left the crowded city to get of glimpse of a different culture.
I am sure if we get a chance to go again it will be a different experience, but in Spring of 2002 we were still learning to live with a new normal from potential terrorist attacks. Seeing families thriving without electricity and computers was amazing. Feeling the calm of their community is indescribable. One thing I adopted after visiting was making my garden so much more beautiful. Practically every house had a large garden either in the front or on the side (and a clothesline with laundry hanging). The perimeter of every garden was bordered in flowers. At the time I was so awe-struck, that I didn’t even get pictures (maybe it was because I was the one driving – or maybe because my phone didn’t take pictures then). Pansies, marigolds, daisies and lavender drew in the pollinators and the Amish gardens were beautiful and abundant in their produce.
I wasn’t able to salvage my first garden in Washington, but I’m always learning from my mistakes and made sure to add flowers to my garden (and to leave the tomato plants in black pots in WA- but that’s another lesson learned the hard way!).
So, here’s my top 10 favorite list for flowers that will attract the pollinators you need – bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds:
- LAVENDER– I love, love, love lavender! It is known to attract bees and repel mosquitoes and flies. Lavender can be used in your recipes and added to your drinking water. It’s a Perennial in zones 6 and higher and typically an annual in zones 5 and below.
- BEEBALM- This is a new addition to my garden this year. It is a perennial and hardy in zones 4-10. It attracts hummingbirds and bees. It’s a nectar rich plants that is easy to grow.
- SALVIA – Salvia includes many, many different species. Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. This spring I have planted Salvia May Night which is commonly referred to as Wood Sage. It’s advertised as easy to grow. It’s a perennial and hardy in zones 4-8.
- MARIGOLDS – Marigolds were one of the plants I was easily able to identify that surrounded the Amish gardens we saw in Pennsylvania. I’ve noticed mixed reviews on this flower as a pollinator attractor. I have been planting this around my tomatoes for years (since seeing it in the Amish gardens) and I always have bees visiting the marigolds and my tomatoes. I personally don’t think they smell as good as lavender but they are easy to grow and easy to find. They are annuals for me.
- MILK WEED- Also known as Asclepias and Butterfly Weed. Attracts butterflies – the Monarch butterfly will lay eggs on this plant. It grows well in unimproved soils. Perennial and hardy in zones 4-9
- HYSSOP– Fun fact, I was able to go Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s home/garden) and I have hyssop from his garden (gift shop anyway). I bought it because it said it was deer resistant. It is a hummingbird favorite but also attracts bees and butterflies. My tag said it is an annual in all zones but it either reseeded or didn’t get too cold this winter because I did not have to replant it.
- OREGANO –attracts bees.This is a great herb that can be used in cooking, crafts and is so easy to grow either in the ground or in containers. Can be a perennial if protected. (I let the pine needles from the trees in my yard cover it and it came back very early spring)
- NASTURTIUM –attracts bees, hummingbirds and moths. Annual in zone 4-8, possible perennial in zone 9. I’m zone 8 and I have had to replant this year. The flower is edible as well (I think it’s pretty- but I don’t really like to eat it)
- MINT – attracts bees. We always plant chocolate mint and plain mint but there are many, many, many others. Almost too easy to grow, can become invasive so I often put this in a container. I love to crush the leaves in my coffee, water and tea-delicious! Perennial in zones 5-9.
- SEA HOLLY– attracts butterflies! This is new to me this year. I planted it because it is deer resistant, drought resistant, attracts butterflies, is low maintenance, and grows well in containers. Sounds like Victory to me! Hardy in zones 4-7.
There are many, many more plants that are great at attracting pollinators. This is what grows best where I am (right now). The beauty is you can add them in the ground, in containers, in your raised beds, as hanging plants – even if your space is tiny. Your Victory Garden will thrive and you will be making room for nature as well. Your pollinators will thank you and you will love your happy garden – Victory for all!!
How are you attracting pollinators? Show me your space so we can celebrate your Victory Garden, too!
Happy Planting!
The Victory Garden Gal
(Coming Next- I’ve always wanted to be a Certified Wildlife Habitat so I did it today! Woo Hoo!! I’ll share how easy it is to help keep our Victory gardens happy, healthy and thriving!)