We all know bees need flowers, yet not all flowers are created equal, and there are other considerations that go into great pollinator habitat. Bees also need nesting habitat which ranges from dead flower stalks to bare, sandy soils. Below are a number of resources that can help you turn your backyard into a spectacular pollinator haven, but in a sentence: keep it native and keep it messy.
Based on 20,000 bee-plant interactions for Vermont, we have created a list of important plants to prioritize for pollinator plantings. Check out Plants for VT Bees for a printable list of plants to choose from.
A simple bee hotel made with firewood and a drill
An even simpler nesting habitat - a rotten stump
The Pruinose Squash Bee - another reason to grow Zuchinni
Willows - the easiest wildflower to grow
Information on Plant Status and Identification
- Go Botany – Native Plant Trust
- iNaturalist
Resources for Planning a Pollinator Garden
- Creating a Pollinator Garden – Cornell University
- Pollinator Conservation Resource Center – Xerces Society
Resources for Building Nesting Habitat
- Nesting and Overwintering Habitat – Xerces Society
- Nests for Native Bees – Xerces Society
- Bee Hotels – VCE
