Spring Series: Attracting Wildlife

Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are pollinators that deserve a spot in your garden. When thinking about planting your spring garden making sure your pollinators are happy makes a big difference. Time and care help flowers bloom, but it is even nicer to have nature lend a helping hand. Here are our top tips for making sure that your garden is attracting the best kind of wildlife.

Plant nectar-rich and pollen-rich flowers: Wildflowers and more old-fashioned varieties of flowers create a great base for attracting wild guests into your garden. Blooming annuals, perennials, and shrubs is a great way to keep variety in your garden and keep something blooming all season long to increase activity and interest for pollinators. Don’t forget about butterfly larvae! Dill, fennel, and milkweed are perfect for larvae.
Keep it organic: Besides being safer for you and your family, going organic helps to keep bees and butterflies around long term. Ecological plant protection is the best way to control pests and diseases. Insects can be beneficial and enjoying a healthier garden by going organic is the best way to do that.
Give them shelter: Pollinators need shelter to hide from the elements and predators, so giving them space helps keep them interested in your garden. Letting part of a hedgerow, lawn, or a log sit and be wild is a great natural way to increase the likelihood that pollinators will stick around. Artificial nesting boxes can help increase the population of pollinators in your area. We have a variety of critter hotels at The Farm at Green Village available for purchase.
Food and water: Providing supplementary feeders will attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees throughout the blooming season. A bird bath, hummingbird feeder (with sugar and water – no red mix necessary), or a water garden will attract wildlife to your garden. Muddy puddles can also be a great source of water for butterflies, who get salt and nutrients in the water.