Happy Pollinator Week! Pollinators help plants reproduce by carrying pollen from one flower to another. They include birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, small mammals, and most importantly, bees. Pollinators sustain our ecosystems and contribute to our natural resources by enabling plants to reproduce. Sadly, many pollinator populations are in crisis due to habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. This Pollinator Week, ask yourself, “What can I do to help the pollinators in my community survive and thrive?”
The best way to help pollinators thrive is to grow native plants. Native plants are a source of food and shelter for local wildlife, including pollinators. Plus, they require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance than non-native plants.
When shopping for native plants with pollinators in mind, opt for long-blooming perennials and shorter-blooming annuals to provide pollinators with a steady source of nectar throughout the year. If you’re in North Carolina, a few of our favorite NC natives include purple coneflowers, butterfly weed, and aromatic aster.
Pro Tip: Bees especially love blue, purple, and yellow flowers with sweet fragrances!
If you purchase native plants for your garden this Pollinator Week, consider getting them through Garden for Wildlife. When you use our referral link, 15% of your purchase will go directly towards PWC’s education and conservation programs.
Another way to support pollinators is to build a Bug Hotel. Orsi Magyari, a member of our community, recently created and shared this tutorial with us. In Orsi’s article, she explains that Bug Hotels enhance habitats for pollinators and encourage biodiversity in gardens. Plus, building a Bug Hotel is a fun and creative hands-on activity for everyone to enjoy!
Let’s get started!
Step #1: Gather your materials.
Gabion Basket (Pictured: 45cm x 45cm)
Helical Corner Kit, Rope, or Cable Ties
Logs, Pinecones, and Twigs: These create a perfect habitat for critters that thrive in dark, woody environments.
Compost: This serves as a food source for earthworms and mites, and should be placed at the base of the Hotel.
Bamboo: Its hollows offer solitary bees, bumblebees, and wasps suitable sites for nesting, egg-laying, and hiding.
Bark, Dead Woods, and Twigs: These offer hiding places and food sources for beetles, especially in urban areas!
Plant Pots: When filled with hay, straw, or leaves, plant pots make excellent shelters for snails.
Hay, Straw, and Dry Leaves: These offer warmth and protection for bugs during cold weather.
Bricks: These provide additional nesting options for bees.
Cardboard: Provides insulation, nesting material, protection, and moisture retention for a variety of species.
Tiles: These serve as ideal roofing materials, preventing water from entering the Hotel.
Step #2: Assemble your gabion basket by…
Folding the four side panels up from the base.
Using helical to attach the corners. If helical isn’t available, cable ties or rope can easily serve the same purpose!
Twisting the helical into place, ensuring they secure the corners of both panels.
Once you have assembled all sides, leave the top lid open.
Step #3: Get creative in filling your gabion basket with the materials you’ve collected.
Pro Tip: Make sure to leave space for bugs by creating nooks, crannies, crevices, and tunnels!
Step #4: Close your gabion basket using the same technique as before, ensuring it sits comfortably on the fillings without any gaps.
Step #5: Add a roof to protect your Bug Hotel from bad weather. Then, consider decorating your roof with flowers to attract pollinators!
Thank you, Orsi, for sharing this easy, fun way to support local pollinators this Pollinator Week! Consider checking out Orsi’s WireFence Bug Hotel tutorial for additional tips and tricks.
More Pollinator Week Activities:
Saturday, 6/22: 3rd Annual Durham Bee Day Celebration
Saturday, 6/22: Chapel Hill Farmer’s Market Pollinator Day
6/15-9/29: NC Museum of Natural Sciences Amazing Pollinators Exhibit
Thank you for doing your part to help the pollinators in your community thrive!
