Pollinators

Pollinators are bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, hummingbirds, and even bats that help fertilize plants by transferring pollen between flowers. They play a crucial role in:

Food production (75% of food crops rely on animal pollination)
Biodiversity and habitat health
Agriculture and the local economy

Local farmers rely on pollinators to grow apples, berries, squash, tomatoes, and even feed crops like alfalfa. However, pollinator populations have declined due to habitat loss, pesticide use, disease, and climate change.

How You Can Help

Plant a Pollinator Garden

Creating a pollinator-friendly garden is one of the best ways to support these important creatures. Here's how:

Choose native flowers – Native plants are the best source of food for local pollinators.

Native Pollinator-Friendly Plants for Georgian Bluffs

Common Name	Height (m)	Flower Season	Sun	Soil	Pollinators	Butterfly Host?
Wild Columbine	0.3–1	Apr–Jul	Sun–Part Shade	Moist, well-drained	Hummingbirds, bees, moths	✔
Swamp Milkweed	1.2–1.5	Jun–Oct	Sun–Part Shade	Moist	Flies, butterflies, hummingbirds	✔
Joe Pye Weed	0.6–1.8	Jul–Sep	Sun–Part Shade	Moist–wet	Butterflies, bees
Sneezeweed	1–1.5	Jul–Sep	Sun–Part Shade	Moist–wet	Bees, wasps, flies, butterflies	✔
Harlequin Blueflag	0.6–0.9	May–Aug	Sun–Part Shade	Moist–wet	Hummingbirds, bees
Cardinal Flower	1–1.5	Aug–Oct	Sun–Part Shade	Moist–wet	Hummingbirds, bees
Beebalm	1–2	Jul–Sep	Sun–Part Shade	Moist–wet	Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies	✔
Wild Bergamot	1	Jul–Sep	Sun–Part Sun	Moist	Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, wasps	✔
Virginia Creeper	15+	May–Jun	Sun–Shade	Dry–moist	Bees, flies	✔
Canada Goldenrod	0.6–2.1	Aug–Nov	Part Shade	Moist	Butterflies, bees
Heart-leaf Aster	1–2	Jun–Aug	Sun	Moist	Butterflies, bees, flies
Heath Aster	1	Aug–Oct	Sun–Part Sun	Moist–wet	Bees, butterflies, beetles, wasps	✔
New England Aster	Up to 1	Sep–Oct	Sun–Part Shade	Moist, well-drained	Bees, butterflies, flies
Hoary Vervain	< 1	Jul–Sep	Sun	Dry, sandy	Bees, butterflies	✔
Golden Alexanders	Up to 1	May–Jul	Sun–Part Sun	Moist–wet	Flies, bees	✔

Grow a variety – Mix different flower colours, shapes, and blooming times to attract a range of pollinators.
➤ Pollinator Garden Guide
Include herbs and veggies – Lavender, mint, thyme, tomatoes, and cucumbers are all great for pollinators.

Provide Water

Set out a shallow dish of water with stones or twigs, so pollinators have a safe place to land while they drink.

Avoid Pesticides

Chemicals can harm pollinators. Use natural options like neem oil or friendly insects (like ladybugs) to manage pests.

Leave Some Wild Space

Pollinators need safe spaces to nest and rest.

Skip mowing for “No Mow May” to give bees and butterflies early food sources
➤ Download No Mow May Window Sign
Leave tall grasses, logs, or bare soil patches for ground-nesting insects

Add a Bee Hotel

Bee hotels give solitary bees (like mason bees) a place to live. Place them in a sunny, sheltered area and don’t clean them until late spring.

Help in Fall and Winter

Many pollinators hibernate in hollow plant stems or under bark.

Leave stems and seed heads standing
Don’t rake every leaf—some pollinators overwinter in leaf litter
Skip fall cleanup and give pollinators a head start in spring

Foods That Need Pollinators

Did you know pollinators help grow everything from apples to vanilla? Here are just a few examples:

Apples, cherries, peaches, and pears – Pollinated by bees
Blueberries and raspberries – Loved by over 100 species of native bees
Tomatoes and pumpkins – Rely on bumblebees and squash bees
Even dairy products – Cows eat alfalfa, a bee-pollinated crop