Flowers attract pollinators with fragrances and bright colors, and pay for their services in sweet nectar. But many pollinator species are in jeopardy. Twenty-five percent of managed honebee colonies have died out in the last decade, due mostly to a parasitic mite. Meanwhile, wild pollinators are threatened by pesticides and the loss of natural habitat. As their numbers decline, plant species are endangered too.
Luckily gardeners are in a good position to help struggling pollinators.
With a little effort, your garden can be made into a pollinator sanctuary. You ll enjoy more flowers and vegetables, and of course more visits by colorful pollinators. Wildflowers that are native to your region are best. Pesticides kill problem pests as well as many beneficial insects. Provide artificial nesting habitats such as bee nesting boxes or bat boxes.