Pollinators are in trouble and their loss is our loss. But the spaces right outside our doors can provide vital lifelines for pollinators and in turn create healthier, more vital communities for all. Gardening for pollinators is about more than just planting a few flowers. To move beyond the ecological deserts created by traditional landscaping practices and towards vital habitats, a series of thoughtful steps are needed. Dig in to the tools and resources throughout this page, and watch the buzz return!
There’s a lot of buzz about pollinators these days, and for good reason; pollinators are in peril. Biologists are warning that pollinator populations are in sharp decline - that’s a big problem for us all.You can help pollinators right at home and in turn create a healthier environment for your family & community.
Pollinators need more than a few flowers to survive and thrive! Use this helpful guide from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to evaluate your yard & garden and identify the concrete steps you can take to enhance your outdoor space to better support pollinators and other beneficial species at home.
The City of Somerville, MA has created a dynamic Pollinator Action Plan to improve habitat throughout the City. Read it HERE. The plan includes a “Pollinator Pantry“ - a science based, user-friendly, set of resources to help you easily plan impactful pollinato gardens of various sizes in a variety of diverse environments.
Dig in to this fantastic pollinator planting guide specific to our region. It includes helpful charts of bloom times for beneficial plants and matches host plants to our native butterflies.
Whether you are interested in improving pollinator resources on your own property, looking for guidance developing a landscaping plan, or trying to determine which native plant species to stock for sale, the Massachusetts DOA curated lists of native, pollinator-friendly container plants and seeds will help you make the right decisions.
Click on the image to be redirected to their website where you can download helpful resources and lists for Massachusetts and surrounding areas, see sample plans and locate places to shop for the native plants that form the foundation of buzzing pollinator places.
Check out this new garden plan from the folks at the Northeast Pollinator Pathway. This is true beginner guide to get you started on your pollinator garden journey. 🦋
Did you know that places and spaces to support nesting and overwintering for pollinators matters nearly as much as the things you plant? Download this helpful guide from the Xerces Society for more information on how to support pollinators all the months of the year!
The Pollinator Pathway a grassroots effort focused on creating pollinator-friendly habitat patches along a series of continuous corridors weaving through communities. By connecting private and public spaces we can build back space for pollinators. Dozens of your neighbors have already joined - get connected today!
Connect your property to the growing network of pollinator gardens across Rhode Island. Learn more about how to connect at the link below.
Rhode Island’s native bees are in trouble. Learn more about it from the scientists at the forefront of the work to catalog and protect our pollinators. Be sure to explore their resources including planting guides for home gardeners. Click on the image to learn more.
The Providence Pollinator Lab led by Dr. Rachel Bonoan studies insect pollinator nutrition and behavioral ecology.
Discover ways that you can contribute to citizen science by helping to catalog Rhode Island’s native pollinators. Dig in to the library of resources to learn more about how you can help pollinators at home and in the community. Click on the image to learn more.
Discover ways that you can connect with others in Massachusetts working to save pollinators by connecting with the Massachusetts Pollinator Network. Participate in programs, help advocate for pro-pollinator legislation, and stay up to date on the latest buzz.
Planting a "Butterfly Garden" or focusing only on "Saving the Bees" is missing the point of the broader objective of building back the kind of vital habitat that supports a full web of life. Focus on the broad objective of replacing conventional landscaping and ornamental gardening (EGOsystem) with a thriving, buzzing, diverse (ECOsystem)!
