Several years ago I planted two arguta kiwis—one male and one female (Actinidia arguta). Today these have turned into huge plants, looping over the garden fence, running along the chicken yard, and straying into the backyard where I have them propped up with a trellis. Right now they are in full bloom and bees of […] Read more
The Adirondack chair, below, is in my yard. A close-up of one of the screw holes shows that a mason bee decided it was a good place to lay her eggs. A seal of mud now protects the eggs that are laid in individual compartments, end-to-end inside the hole. The fact that I provided perfectly […] Read more
If you live in the states, the Pollinator Partnership has a website where you can get information about pollinator-friendly plants that will grow in your eco-region. Simply enter your zip code and you will be directed to a 24-page guide for your area. Each guide contains an overview of the planting region, a summary of […] Read more
When planting a pollinator garden, keep in mind that pollinators need food during the entire growing season. Although some species live only a few weeks, different species become active at different times of the year. In other words, something must be in flower at all times throughout the spring, summer, and fall if you want […] Read more
At the request of a friend I just posted a list of pollinator-friendly plants. It’s in the left column of this site, just beneath the calendar. The list has two parts: the first part contains popular garden plants found in many areas of the United States, and the second part contains plants native to the […] Read more