All the Buzz
Want to bring beauty and motion to your garden while also helping to support
important pollinators? Here are creative ways to grow a pollinator-attracting
garden and some proven ideas on what to feed our local buzzy friends. K. H.
TIPS FROM THE
EXPERT “Plant large
patches of a single
pollinator-friendly
plant (each patch
at least 3 feet by 3
feet), because a pollinator in search of
food will locate large
patches much easier
than a single plant
and will hang out
longer,” says Jaime
Pawelek of Wild Bee
Garden Design. She
also recommends
leaving some garden
areas mulch-free for
ground-nesting bees
— over 70 percent
of bees nest underground and need bare
soil for digging.
THE DETAILS Did You Know Without the work of
pollinators, many plants that we rely on for food could
not produce seeds, fruit and vegetables. Welcome
Mat Create a habitat rich in plants that are high in
nectar and pollen, are diverse in height, shapes, and
colors, and provide winter shelter. Consider creating a
bug hotel — a structure created from natural materials like pottery shards and hollow bamboo. Bee Bar
Plant a diverse collection of native bee-friendly flowers
that bloom early, mid and late season to insure steady
nectar and pollen supply. Butterfly Buffet Monarchs
and swallowtails will visit if you plant nectar-rich
flowering plants; also consider host plants like native
milkweed and fennel for egg-laying and larvae food.
Totally Tubular If you like hummingbirds, plant flowers that are tubular, scentless and brightly colored
(red, orange or blue). Remember, variety is the key to
hummingbird happiness. Drinking Hole Providing a
source of water is essential for butterflies, so create a
mud hole — a permanent puddle providing both water
and mud minerals — or make a bath from a shallow
plate filled with pebbles to create good perching spots
for visiting bees, then add water. Patchwork Partners
Consider creating a corridor of pollinator gardens filled
with native plants in your neighborhood to help restore
healthy communities of beneficial insects and pollinators. Green, Please Avoid using nasty chemicals and
toxic pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. Doing
this helps maintain a healthy ecosystem and all life
forms — including yours.
Borage
Calendula
Sunflowers
Lavender
California poppies
Aster
Coneflower
California lilac
Yarrow
BEST PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS
Love Is in the Air
As a landscaper whose work requires me to get up close and personal with plants,
I will always, if you ask me to pick a favorite type, choose the lesser-known but
very distinct air plant. And why is this plant, also known as tillandsia, my top pick?
Read on to learn why air plants truly soar above the rest of the bunch. K.H.
TIPS FROM THE EXPERT Susie Turner, owner of Green
Door Design in Mill Valley, specializes in custom plant arrangements. She says, “Air plants look amazing nestled into living
succulent arrangements, giving height and texture, and can
easily be removed for weekly watering.” Turner’s favorite: tillandsia juncea paired with tall orchids, as they add a grassy
look and wispy effect, artfully filling in the spaces.
THE DETAILS Variety These evergreen lovelies come
in many leaf shapes, colors and textures — all resembling
sea creatures with wildly crazy tentacles. The Dirt Not
requiring soil, they are not confined full-time to a container.
Unlike what the name may suggest, air plants don’t absorb
all their moisture and nutrients via the air but through their
leaves. Fuss Free Air plants are shockingly easy. To water,
submerge the entire plant in a container of rain or bottled
drinking water anywhere from 15 minutes to 10 hours
weekly. Air plants absorb only as much water as needed,
so you won’t overwater this way. After removing from the
bath, turn the air plant upside down and gently shake off
excess water from its base (they hate wet feet). Light Up
Air plants prefer bright, indirect light with good air circulation. In the outdoors, a porch or gazebo-like structure
allows the desired amount of filtered sunlight plus needed
frost protection. Versatility The possible arrangements
are endless — air plants can be mounted on driftwood,
attached to wreaths or nestled in seashells.
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
• They are especially
fond of bright, steamy
bathrooms.
• Use a specialized
fertilizer in the water
monthly. Try bromeliad.
• Leaves on a drought-stressed air plant curl
under, have a flat color
and turn brown at their
ends. These are safe to
trim off.
