Summer brings plenty of flowers to keep pollinators happy, but what about late fall and early spring? As the weather cools in autumn, pollinators, like bees and butterflies, need nectar sources to build their energy reserves to get through winter hibernation or make a long migration journey.
EARLY WAKE UP In spring, hummingbirds begin to appear, and hoverflies, butterflies and hibernating bumblebees and solitary bees will come out at the first sign of warmer weather. Meanwhile, honeybees don’t hibernate but they will become more active and start collecting nectar as soon as your spring flowers arrive.
HOW TO HELP POLLINATORS Grow a variety of fall- and spring-blooming flowers to keep them fed at both ends of the growing season. Look for a mix of bulbs, perennials, shrubs and annuals in…