Learn which plants are beneficial to pollinators and will grow well in your area. You will want plants that provide nectar for bees and butterflies and plants that provide food for the larval stage (caterpillars) of butterflies. Milkweed, bronze fennel, and parsley are all wonderful host plants for butterfly caterpillars. For nectar plants there are many, many choices. Annuals such as colorful zinnias, tall sunflowers, and hardy cosmos are easy to grow from seeds. For a more permanent space try perennials like button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima).
Once your garden space is complete, send a photo to Becky Griffin, UGA Community and School Garden Coordinator, at email@example.com or post it to our UGA Community and School Gardens Facebook page. We would love to send your garden a certificate of participation in this historical pollinator event!
Try for a continuous bloom. Create a space that will bloom through as many seasons as possible. These links will help you choose plants for your garden:
The Eco-Friendly Garden: Attracting Pollinators, Beneficial Insects, and Other Natural Predators – A UGA publication based on research conducted at UGA pollinator research garden.
A Pollinator Friendly Garden Can Be Created in the Shade – A Useful Guide to Shade Gardening for Pollinators
Beyond Butterflies: Gardening for Pollinators – a UGA Extension publication by Jeff Webb.
Build Your Pollinator Plant List – created by UGA EcoScapes especially for South Georgia Counties
Environmental Enhancement with Ornamentals – Butterfly Gardening – information to attract butterflies
Bee Conservation in the Southeast – written by honey bee expert Keith Delaplane
How Gardeners Can Help Pollinators – NRCS publication
UGA’s Honey Bee Lab – find out the latest research going on at UGA on honey bees
Field Guide to Georgia Milkweeds – photos and descriptions of various milkweed plants by Monarchs across Georgia
Xerxes Southeast Plants for Native Bees – native bees will be an important part of your pollinator habitat
Selecting Plants for Pollinators – Southeastern Mixed Forest Province – a helpful booklet by the Pollinator Partnership and NAPPC
Butterflies and Moths of North America – a great tool for identifying butterflies in your garden
Sample Pollinator Habitats -a great resource for Georgia gardens by Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia
Georgia Pollinators – full of wonderful pollinator facts by Monarch Across Georgia
One Million Pollinator Gardens – a program from the National Pollinator Garden Network
Pollinator Planting Guide – by Pollinator Partnership
Insects & Pollinators – by USDA’s National Resource Conservation Service
Bee Smart Pollinator Gardener App – an app by Pollinator Partnership and NAPPC
Feed A Bee – a program from Bayer on supporting bee health