Planting with Purpose: Starting a Pollinator Garden

Pollinators sustain our food systems, keep our Earth alive, and are essential markers of ecosystem health and issues. The list of things that would cease to exist without our pollinators is endless, including life itself. Without healthy and supported pollinators, the seasons and cycles of life cannot continue. We don't want to get you down in the dumps too much, but touching on this harsh reality is important, and we need to make changes to support our pollinators now more than ever before.​

It's well documented that our pollinators are under threat now more than they have ever been. The whole “save the bees” movement is not an empty phrase; we truly need them for so many aspects of our day-to-day life that we take for granted. The threat is due mainly to habitat loss, the proliferation of non-native plants, and the use of pesticides, which erode pollinator populations and harm many levels in our ecosystems. However, when we talk about pollinators, we aren't just talking bees (and not just honeybees); they also include native bees, flies, moths, butterflies, bats, wasps, beetles, and some bird species, especially hummingbirds. These essential pollinators sustain our flowers, fruits, vegetables, and crops, and feed numerous species and other plant life. Planting a pollinator garden is a small but sustainable change that can make a difference for your local pollinators and support your local ecosystems health. But starting a pollinator garden can feel daunting, so we have pieced together a small guide to help you take those first few steps into supporting our pollinators!​

Sunlight, Water and Soil

Butterflies and other pollinators bask in the sun, and some of their favourites grow best in full or partial sun, keeping in mind they will need some protection from the wind and accessible sources of water. When choosing a spot for your pollinator garden, look for a sunny area with some wind protection, either from shrubs, trees, or bushes, so our small hardworking pollinator friends can safely rest and recharge. Accessible sources of water are also key for supporting pollinators, and they can be fun to create! Whether you have previously purchased bee baths or bee cups made just for pollinators, or are starting from scratch, water is an essential resource. Don’t have any bee baths or bee cups? Try making a fun butterfly puddler (which gives water to all pollinators, not just butterflies).

Butterfly puddlers are a shallow dish with rocks, tiles, or stones where pollinators can safely land and drink water without drowning on different levels of elevation. It may sound complicated, but it can be as simple as taking a clean plant saucer or other dish and adding in different sized rocks so pollinators can land and perch safely while drinking water. If you want to get artsy with it, you can even use decorative tiles and stones in a pattern with some clear silicone caulking.  ​​

Credit: Butterfly Lady

Another important factor to consider when planning a pollinator garden (or any garden really) is the soil. Is your soil sandy, clay-like, wet, or a combination? This, along with the amount of sun your pollinator garden receives, will determine which varieties of pollinator plants will be best for your garden. If you are converting a patch from your lawn into a pollinator garden, we suggest removing the grass through one of the following ways: 

• Sod Removal: Manually dig out the grass using a shovel or rent a sod cutter for larger areas. This method provides immediate results, but requires physical effort and proper disposal of the sod. 
• Sheet Mulching: Lay down several layers of cardboard or newspaper over the grass, then cover with mulch. This method smothers the grass and enriches the soil as the materials decompose. It's effective but takes time (several months) to prepare the area for planting. 
• Solarization: Cover the grass with clear plastic for several weeks during hot weather. The heat will kill the grass and weeds beneath. This method is effective but requires patience and works best in sunny climates.

After removing the grass, loosen the soil and amend it with compost or organic matter to improve fertility and drainage. But remember that you will only need to loosen the soil after initially starting your pollinator garden, as many pollinators (especially native bees) burrow and live underground, so disturbing the soil may harm or kill them. Let the leaves, sticks, and mulch lay; your pollinators will thank you! (Also only use natural mulch, dyed mulch is bad for pollinator health!) ​

If you plan on using raised beds, you can purchase soil to fill them with and if you would like you can add in some compost or organic matter for soil health. Then add your native plants in (or seeds), following suggested planting and care steps either on the plant tags or from garden centre staff. Make sure you water your new plants well, especially during dry spells. 

​St. Thomas is in what is called the Lake Erie lowlands ecozone, where the following native plants can be used to support and encourage local pollinator health and populations:  ​

Native Plant Suggestions

• Bee Balm: Perennial with fragrant blossoms; attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.

• Canada Goldenrod: Perennial with strongly flavoured nectar; attracts bees, wasps, beetles, butterflies, and moths.
• Cardinal Flower: Perennial with red, pink, or white blooms; attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. (Be VERY careful with this native plant, as it is TOXIC to humans and pets including dogs and cats)
• Golden Alexanders: Perennial with yellow flowers; attracts Black Swallowtail butterflies and other pollinators. 
• Heart-leaf Aster: Perennial with distinct heart-shaped leaves and pale blue to violet flowers; attracts bumblebees, butterflies, bees, moths, and birds. 

• Heath Aster: Perennial with fuzzy stems and masses of tiny, daisy-like white aster flowers with yellow eyes; attracts bees, butterflies and moths. 

• Hoary Vervain: Perennial with showy blue-purple flowers; attracts pollen specialist bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and moths. 

• New England Aster: Perennial with violet, lavender, or white flowers with orange-yellow centers; attracts butterflies and bees.

• Sneezeweed: Perennial with showy daisy-like flowers in warm colours; attracts bees, wasps, butterflies, hoverflies, and other pollinators.

• Spotted Joe Pye Weed: Perennial with fragrant purple pink inflorescences; attracts ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies and skippers. 

• Swamp Milkweed: Perennial that comes in shades of soft mauve to pink to reddish-violet and occasionally white; attracts Monarch butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other insects. 
• Wild Bergamot: Perennial with tubular, lilac-purple flowers in dense, globular clusters; attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. 
• Wild Blue Iris: Perennial with deep blue to purple flowers; attracts bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds.

• Wild Columbine: Perennial with bell-shaped flowers; attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. ​

Artist Credit: Jacob Wilcox

Seed or Starter Plants

The choice between planting from seed or picking up some nursery-started plants depends on your timeline and budget. Purchasing seeds is more economical but requires more time, and may need for seeds to be started inside before planting. With seeds, plan on dispersing them in autumn or late winter ahead of the summer growing season. Purchasing nursery-started plants will cost you a little extra, but you’ll receive a quicker return on your investment, and the pollinators will likely arrive quickly after adding them to your garden.  ​

There are no limits for how big or small a pollinator garden can be; the goal is to imitate nature. Whether you’re planning an expansive pollinator oasis or a little patch in a planter box, ensuring you are planting a diverse selection of plants with different heights and variations will attract an array of pollinators to your garden. There are a few non-native species that are more than okay to plant, some herbs like parsley, basil, and sage, and flowers like Alyssum, Calendula, or Cosmos can add some variety to the native species included in your garden. Try to ensure you are planting heirloom varieties, which contain more nectar and pollen than hybrid varieties.  
 
Include plants with different flower shapes and colours that attract different pollinators, and a mix of plants that bloom at different times of the year will give the pollinators sweet nectar and pollen year-round. At the end of the summer and into autumn, as petals fall and leaves collect, allow plant debris to stand over winter and into the next summer to provide shelter for solitary ground nesting pollinators and insects. Embrace natural gardening, and let your pollinator garden mimic nature, then have an ornamental garden for show that you can primp and weed to your hearts content! ​

We know not everyone has a lawn or the space to create large garden vistas, a small balcony pollinator garden is doable. While you may not get as much pollinator traffic a couple of stories up, you’ll still get visitors. These will be most successful if you get a good amount of sun throughout the day. Depending on the orientation of your balcony, the sun could be a challenge. If that's the case, choose shade-loving pollinator plants like Hosta, Columbine, Lady’s Mantle, and Bowman’s Root.  

With a little bit of know-how and some dedication, creating a pollinator garden is an incredible way to make an impact to the survivability of these creatures we depend on so heavily, a way to give back and say thank you to the crawling, flying, buzzing creatures that make this pollinator ecosystem work the way it is supposed to. We are a part of it, so let's do our bit to sustain our biodiversity, support our essential pollinators, and embrace native plants. ​

Artist Credit: Jacob Wilcox

Jacob Wilcox, EDC Summer Student & Paige Palmer, Marketing Assistant

Jacob is a St. Thomas-born, Wallacetown-raised artist and writer who recently completed a BA in Visual Art at York University. An avid Elgin County enthusiast, he has a deep appreciation for local businesses, rural life, community connections, and grassroots initiatives. From a young age, Jacob has been involved in local theatre--most notably Dutton’s community theatre, WEDS. As a practicing artist, he blends photography, writing, and illustration in both his personal work and marketing initiatives, with a focus on visual storytelling and brand identity. He is drawn to the beauty in the mundane, finds art in everyday life, and hopes to carry that perspective into a future career in community stewardship and education. 

Paige is a proud recent graduate of Western University's Media and Communications (MACS) program and King's University College's Thanatology program. Born and raised in Elgin County, Paige loves connecting with local people and businesses to tell their stories and promote their hard work. A previous St. Thomas Parks and Forestry summer student, Paige also loves exploring local parks and trails, and promoting the incredible work of the Parks and Forestry department, while capturing some beautiful pictures along the way. ​​