Making Your Garden More Pollinator Friendly

Power of Pollinators

Did you know that pollinators are responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of food we take each day? According to the National Park Service, at least 75% of all flowering plants are pollinated by insects and animals. That amounts to 1,200 food crops and 180,000 different types of plants!

Pollinators – bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, hummingbirds, and bats – are key to a healthy garden. They help spread pollen from flower to flower, which leads to pollination, and more flowers blooming. A high number and range of pollinators is a sign of a healthy ecosystem!

This perennial pollinator garden is a-buzz with insects and birds. 

Protecting Pollinators 

Without pollinators, plants, animals, and humans could not survive. Unfortunately, habitat loss and pesticide use is threatening pollinator populations across the world. Small actions to create a safe space for pollinators can make a huge difference!

Reduce the Grass

Turf grass (such as Bermuda grass from Africa) consists of just one species or “monoculture” that is exclusively cultivated. Our grass-centric landscape lacks biodiversity and is resource-intensive (such as water, fossil fuels used to maintain the turf, and chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides) are often used to maintain a weed-free turf lawn.  

Pollinator Gardens

Add a sign to inform others about Pollinator Gardens, like this one from Xerces Society.

Creating a pollinator garden is a great way to attract and protect pollinators. Pollinator gardens supply nectar or pollen for a range of pollinators. They also provide food and habitat for animals, help soil stay healthy, and clean the air. Include a sign that educates people about Pollinator Gardens.

According to the National Park Service, the best ways to support pollinator gardens are:

• Provide habitat for pollinators with native, nectar-rich flowers (see Eco Regional Planting Guide Cards below)

• Offer pollinators a drink with a small, shallow dish of water 

• Avoid clearing leaves; dead leaves and plant matter provide food and shelter for pollinators

• Limit the use of pesticides to avoid poisoning pollinators

• Offer a variety of flower types, shapes, and sizes 

• Plant flowers in large clumps so that pollinators can easily move from one flower to the next

• Provide nesting and sheltering sites for pollinators such as downed tree limbs for bees

National Park Service’s Eco Regional Planting Guide for Northeast Region. 

Plants Pollinators Love

Wondering what plants will provide the best habitat for pollinators? According to the National Audubon Society, these 10 flowering native plants are a great place to start.

1. Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

2. Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

3. Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)

4. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

5. Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)

6. Canada Lily (Lilium canadense)

7. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

8. Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

9. Beebalm (Monarda didyma)

10. Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

For more information on native plants, see Audubon's "Why Native Plants Matter." Small actions to provide shelter, food, and water for pollinators can have a huge impact on ecosystem health. It is time to start supporting  the insects and animals that are working hard in our gardens and school grounds everyday! To read more: see this link.

Article by Claire DuBois, Haverford College ‘22, Sustainability Interns at Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants.

Printed in PAISBOA’s Friday Flyer Vol. XII, No. 9 - June 2, 2023.

Unplugged & Unstructured: Getting Children Outside

“Nature-Deficit Disorder” 

While the full effect of pandemic-related behaviors on children is yet to be understood, the term “Nature-Deficit Disorder"  by Richard Louv aimed to describe the human costs of alienation from nature and sequester a call to action. Since Louv popularized the term, there have been numerous studies on the impacts of nature experience on human development. Nature-deficit disorder suggests a host of adverse effects, including but not limited to;  diminished use of the senses, increased attention difficulties, higher rates of obesity, and physical and emotional disorders.  

Nature-deficit also indicates that we’re not preparing children to become stewards of the environment without a connection to the natural world. These issues lend themselves to more significant problems, which experts call “an inactivity epidemic.” 

New York Times author, Meg St-Esprit McKivigan, ran this headline in June 2021: “Nature Deficit Disorder is a Thing,” stating, “Children’s behavior may suffer from lack of access to outdoor space, a problem heightened by the pandemic.” Unfortunately, her statement holds true. A 2020 report from the Centers for Disease told the same story depicting a nationwide surge in mental health crises during the pandemic. 

Screen time has also increased. Studies conducted over the pandemic have found a consistent picture of elevated screen time in children of all ages, contributing to increased risks to physical health. The Journal of Neural Transmission reported total media time increased by 46% during the lockdown and did not ultimately return to pre-Corona levels. 

Lean into Outdoor Opportunities

Child health and education advocates are working to inform the public about the positive health effects of time spent in nature. Educators and parents can lean into outdoor experiences and facilitate authentic, simple opportunities to improve health and well-being. Choose places and activities that are accessible and where you can often go, keeping it sweet and simple! 

Students exploring nature. © Moodboard / Adobe Stock 

The natural world offers many opportunities to enjoy, learn, reflect and reset. Watching the exact landscape change from season to season is quite spectacular; imagine how a tree flourishes in the summer and quickly turns frosty in the winter. Give children time to watch, reflect, and understand the cycle of life in their way, promoting rapport and care for the planet!

The Benefits of Outdoor Experiences 

Being outside has benefits that go far beyond the physical. Nature engagement can positively affect overall well-being and health. A study published by The National Institute of Health shows that being outside in nature helps to:

• Reduce levels of  stress hormone - cortisol 

• Improve concentration and recall 

• Improve sleep patterns 

• Improve mood and outlook

The importance of outdoor play has never been so clear, so take the extra moment to go outside with students and enjoy!

Nature observation  © Jacob Land/Adobe Stock  

by Simran Safer, Associate at Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants.

This article is also published in PAISBOA’s Friday Flyer, Vol XI, No. 8, May 13, 2022. 

4 Tips to Shrink Your Lawn with Native Plants

Across the United States, manicured grass lawns blanket over 40 million acres posing serious threats to surrounding biodiversity and ecosystems (Audubon, n.d.). Grass lawns at schools and homes crowd out wildlife and native plants. They also require a lot of water, fossil fuels, and chemicals to maintain them. 

American lawns consume:

• Nearly 3 trillion gallons of water a year, 

• 200 million gallons of gas (from mowing) and the noise from the mowers and string trimmers can be 

• 70 million pounds of pesticides (NRDC, 2016). 

Many lawns consist of just one species or “monocultures”  (such as Bermuda grass from Africa) that is exclusively cultivated. A monoculture landscape lacks biodiversity to support beneficial pollinators like birds and butterflies. 

Unsure how to reduce your impact whether at home or school? We’ve pulled together some eco-friendly tips on how and why native plants are good for us. 

Tip 1: Start Small

Look for areas at your school or at home where the grass doesn’t grow in the first place – this can be steep banks, rocky outcroppings, shaded areas under the trees. Consider unused areas, such as front and side yards or buildings, where grass could be replaced with alternative plantings. 

Once you’ve identified an area, spread a sheet of black plastic and place rocks over it. The weight will cause the grass to wither and the roots to dry up. After this, turn the top 12” of soil and use a hoe to break up the clumps. The area is now prepped and ready for native plants!

Tip 2: Choose Native over Exotic Plants 

Go for a “natural” rather than formal look by choosing native plants that are conducive to your location (see “plant hardiness growing zone”). Native plants provide a host of benefits: they require low maintenance, help combat climate change, conserve water, and provide vital habitats for wildlife. Native plants create mutually beneficial relationships between the insects and bird populations. Exotic (non-native) plants disrupt these relationships, often harbor invasive pests, and require more maintenance.   

Photo of blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium idahoense), a native groundcover

Invite Pollinators & Plant Native Species

Did you know that 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce (USDA)? Pollinators perform crucial mechanisms to support ecosystems making it possible for our food and flowers to grow. Pesticides, drought, habitat destruction, and climate change threaten pollinators like insects and birds (Vassar, 2017). Consider supporting these important pollinators by planting native species such as perennials like coneflowers, cardinal flowers, milkweed, white wood aster, blue wild indigo, and Virginia bluebells. A landscape of native plants provides teachable moments where students can observe the interaction between plants and pollinators and learn the benefits of biodiversity. 

Native flowers at Mt. Cuba botanical garden 

​When planting, it is important to consider the garden’s location, soil type, and potential native plants. While most flowers can grow in both sunny and shady locations, butterflies and other pollinators prefer wildflowers that grow best in full or partial sun. Also, depending on the location, the soil can be sandy and well-drained or more clay-like and wet, which will greatly affect the types of plants you can grow (FWS, 2003). 

Tip 3: Ditch the Pesticides 

Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill insects, plants, and fungi to create the ‘perfect’ lawn.  However, they inadvertently pose a series of negative consequences. For instance, pesticide residue affects the quality and structure of the soil and leaches into the groundwater. Not to mention, it can be severely toxic for soil-living organisms. Lawn chemicals should also be avoided especially if there are children who play on it. The pesticide residue moves up through the food chain posing serious health consequences to a series of species including humans (Policy, USA). 

Tip 4: Educate Others 

Certify your school or yard with a sign that tells others about your habitat. Programs such as the National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Habitat, Audubon Mid-Atlantic, and the North American Butterfly Association offers a Butterfly Garden and Habitat Program. These programs provide excellent resources for how to certify your home or school garden. They also provide signage to educate others about the importance of biodiversity and native species. 

National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat signs educate others about the importance of creating native habitat

A Call to Action

Our actions to improve native habitats can help to reduce the negative impacts of biodiversity decline. President Biden established a national goal to conserve at least 30% of US lands and freshwater and 30% of US ocean areas by 2030. This initiative is referred to as “30×30.” Our collective actions may seem small but together we can make positive change. 

Additional Articles:

• Why Build a Pollinator Garden 

• Effects of Pesticides on Our Wildlife 

• More Sustainable and Beautiful Alternatives to Grass Lawn

• Your Lawn is an Ecological Deadzone: The Case for Replacing it With Native Plants

Article by Hannah Riegel, Boston College ‘22, Sustainability Intern at Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants.

Article printed in PAISBOA’s Friday Flyer Vol. XI, No. 6 - April 1, 2022