Pollinator Garden

Our pollinator garden is filling in rapidly with the warmer temperatures and ample amounts of rain we are experiencing.  Many species in our area, including bees, wasps, flies, ants and hummingbirds are pollinators providing plant species with the essential service of moving pollen from one flower to another for fertilization.  Many popular native species are found in our garden; let’s take a look at a few of the ones now in bloom.

Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea, is found in a variety of natural environments from open woodlands to prairies to fens.  This member of the parsley family is visited by Pearl Crescent butterflies, Phyciodes tharos, and Spotted Thyris moths, Thyris maculata,  especially where these insects find other food species including Clematis and Houstonia.  Mining bees, small in size and emerging in early spring, are the primary pollinator, picking up pollen on the hairs of their upper legs as they feed on the flowers.

Another favorite pollen source for bees is Virginia Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum virginianum. With its white to pale violet flowers and leaves that look like they are stained from water; this plant’s nectar also attracts the Red Admiral butterfly, Vanessa atalanta, and a few species of beetles. The stamens on this flower extend well past the petals making it difficult for small, short-tongued insects to get close enough to the flower tube to obtain nectar.  Bumble bees, one of the primary pollinators feeding on the nectar,  use their larger bodies to push past the stamens picking up pollen to transfer from one flower to another.

Woodland Phlox, Phlox divaricata, also known as Wild Blue Phlox, is often found in open woodlands.  This flower is attractive for pollinator gardens due to its blue flowers and good growth in partially shaded areas.  Pollinators include many butterfly and moth species with long tongues that can reach deep into the long flower tube for the nectar at the base. As the butterfly feeds, its proboscis (tongue) contacts the stamens to pick up pollen which is transferred to the next flower.

Another flower in the blue spectrum is Jacob’s Ladder, Polemonium reptans.  This species does well in partial shade or a moist area in full sun.  The flowers are visited by bees, flies and beetles.  Large bees are the best pollinators as they collect pollen on their heads and thoraxes when pushing through the stamens to get to the nectar at the base of the petals. Previously collected pollen brushes off on subsequently visited flowers.