This small but mighty garden highlights how a garden can support a healthy ecosystem while highlighting stunning floral displays throughout the spring, summer, and even autumn! The plants selected for this garden have been chosen to support a robust team of pollinators like butterflies, bees, and moths. These gardens also support pollinators that are often forgotten including flies, beetles ants, and even wasps! The garden is designed to showcase the beauty of native plants.
This garden supports pollinators by creating healthy habitats, acting as host plants for caterpillars, and providing sources of nectar for pollinating insects. In the winter, the plant stems are left standing in order to provide safe havens for overwintering insects. Supporting pollinators has become even more important as we see declines in pollinator populations due to climate change and habitat loss. You can help make a difference by planting some of these flowers in your garden, on your balcony, or in a community garden!
Highlights
- Eastern columbine*(Aquilegia canadensis): The elongated spurs (hollow extension of the flower) produce nectar and attract pollinators like ruby-throated hummingbirds that are able to access the hidden deposits.
- Purple coneflower: (Echinacea purpurea) Large flowerhead acts as a landing pad for pollinators and birds love eating the seeds from spent flowers.
- Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Don’t let the not-so-pretty name fool you! Swamp milkweed brings beautiful colour to the garden, attracts pollinators, and acts as an important host plant for monarch butterflies.
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): Grasses and sedges are a great addition to a pollinator garden as they provide important food and shelter for caterpillars.
- Eastern Redbud (Asclepias incarnata): Don’t forget the trees! Trees provide important sources of nectar – especially those like the Eastern Redbud that bloom early in the season before most wildflowers!
This garden was generously supported by PollinateTO
