Creating a pollinator paradise

The return of June — my favorite month — is here! It’s my favorite for many reasons: it marks the beginning of summer, which is my favorite season, it’s my birthday month (sending love to all my fellow Geminis!) and, recently, I found out June is National Adopt a Shelter Cat Month and National Pollinator Month — two of my favorite things!

For this column, I’ll be writing about the latter. I love the natural world, and I’m thankful to have grown up in areas within this lively valley surrounded by the beauty of nature. Through this, I developed a love for the charming hummingbirds, bumbling bees and mysterious bats who inhabit Valencia County.

Pollinators also include some beetles, wasps, moths, butterflies and more. All these creatures share a commonality in carrying out one of the most important tasks — pollination. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. That’s one out of every three bites of food you eat.”

Pollinators especially became a big interest of mine a few years back when I began to get more into plants and gardening as they truly complement one another. After all, one of the main reasons flowers came into existence was to attract pollinators, and they have been co-evolving with each other ever since.

Fun fact: the unofficial theme of our wedding a few weeks back was even dedicated to bugs and pollinators. They hold a special place in our hearts, especially after the summer of 2022 when my husband and I raised a few black swallowtail caterpillars into butterflies. It was such a cool experience observing the full life cycle, and I’ve been fascinated since and always want them to feel welcome in my yard.

Last summer, this inspired us to try and make a pollinator garden of sorts. Being that we just moved into a new area last summer and were establishing a garden from nothing, the plants didn’t take off as well as I hoped.

We’re trying again this summer though, and as luck would have it, while reading a recent Friends of Whitfield newsletter, I stumbled across a helpful guide written by Ted Hodoba, a plant and wildlife conservation enthusiast and previous manager of the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area.

I recently got his blessing to share a few tips gathered from his article, “Creating a Thriving Pollinator Garden in New Mexico.” I hope it helps those who may have a pollinator garden in the works. I also hope it inspires people who don’t to give it a try, or at least consider planting a few pollinator-friendly plants in your garden this year. As Hodoba wrote, “it can be both rewarding and beneficial.”

“By providing a habitat rich in nectar and pollen, you can attract and support these crucial pollinators while adding beauty to your outdoor space,” he wrote.

First tip: provide a variety of blooming plants that bloom different times throughout the growing season, native flowering plants especially are recommended.

“This will ensure that there is a continuous source of nectar and pollen available. Some good choices include Gregg’s mistflower, coneflowers, salvias and sunflowers — both American and Mexican varieties.”

Second, include some “host” plants. Something interesting about butterflies and moths is that each species only lays their eggs on specific types of plants that the caterpillars subsequently feed on.

Those black swallowtails we raised, for example, were found on our dill and parsley plants as that is their host plant, along with other members of the Apiaceae family including carrots and fennel. So now we make it a point to plant dill and parsley every year in our pollinator garden.

Milkweed is another good option, as Hodoba wrote, “Milkweed is the sole food source for Monarch butterfly larvae making it essential for supporting these iconic pollinators.”

Next, provide water.

“Pollinators need water to survive, so make sure to include a shallow water source in your garden, such as a birdbath or shallow dish filled with pebbles for butterflies to perch on,” Hodoba wrote.

My mom has a little pollinator garden herself going and she uses a plant drip tray or saucer as her dish. She has it filled with some marbles and then adds water. The marbles ensure the bug doesn’t accidentally drown while trying to get water. I definitely want to try that in my garden this year!

Hodoba also recommends incorporating a variety of plant heights, structures and materials in your garden to provide nesting opportunities for different species of pollinators.

Finally, and perhaps one of the most important tips, is to avoid pesticides.

“Pesticides are harmful to pollinators and are a major cause of pollinator decline. Instead of pesticides, opt for natural pest control methods in your garden,” Hodoba wrote. “Encourage natural predators like ladybugs and lacewings to keep pest populations in check without resorting to chemical treatments.”