As we get our gardens planted for the season, it's always nice to incorporate pretty flowers to add some landscape appeal. But, did you know that certain flowers can also benefit your fruit and vegetable gardens?
Pollinator-friendly flowers provide nectar and pollen sources for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Some popular pollinator-friendly flowers include bee balm, lavender, coneflower, cosmos, zinnia, sunflower, and salvia. By incorporating these flowers into your garden, you can create a vibrant habitat that attracts and sustains pollinators throughout the growing season.
Bee Balm is a perennial herbaceous plant native to North America. It is also commonly referred to as wild bergamot or Oswego tea. Bee balm is prized for its vibrant, showy flowers that come in various shades of pink, red, purple, and white, depending on the cultivar.Bee balm is an excellent choice for attracting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden. Here's how bee balm benefits pollinators:
- Abundant Nectar: Bee balm produces copious amounts of nectar, which serves as a rich food source for pollinators. Bees, in particular, are attracted to the sweet nectar produced by the tubular flowers of bee balm.
- Long Blooming Period: The flowers of bee balm typically bloom from mid- to late summer, providing a consistent source of nectar for pollinators during this time when other flowering plants may be scarce.
- Attractive to a Variety of Pollinators: While the name "bee balm" suggests its primary attraction to bees, this plant also draws in other pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds, enhancing the overall biodiversity of the garden.
- Native Plant Benefits: Bee balm is indigenous to North America, making it well-adapted to local climates and soil conditions. By incorporating native plants like bee balm into your garden, you can support local ecosystems and promote biodiversity.
- Ornamental Value: In addition to its ecological benefits, bee balm is prized for its ornamental qualities. Its striking flowers add a burst of color and visual interest to garden beds, borders, and wildflower meadows.
Lavender is native to the Mediterranean region but is cultivated worldwide for its aromatic foliage and beautiful flowers. Lavender is known for its distinctive scent, soothing properties, and ornamental value in gardens. Here's how lavender benefits pollinators:
- Abundant Nectar: Lavender produces small, fragrant flowers that are rich in nectar, making them attractive to a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Bees, in particular, are drawn to lavender for its abundant nectar, which they collect to make honey.
- Extended Blooming Period: Depending on the variety and climate, lavender can bloom from late spring through summer and into early fall. This extended flowering period provides a consistent food source for pollinators throughout the growing season when other floral resources may be limited.
- Easy Accessibility: Lavender flowers have open, tubular shapes that are easily accessible to pollinators seeking nectar and pollen. The flowers are arranged in dense spikes, allowing multiple pollinators to feed simultaneously.
- Drought Tolerance: Lavender is well-adapted to dry, sunny conditions, making it a resilient plant in many gardens. Its ability to thrive in drought-prone areas makes it a valuable resource for pollinators during periods of water scarcity when other flowering plants may struggle.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, lavender is relatively low maintenance and requires minimal watering and fertilization. This makes it an attractive option for gardeners looking to create pollinator-friendly landscapes with minimal effort.
Coneflower, also known as Echinacea, is native to North America. These plants are cherished for their striking daisy-like flowers with prominent, cone-shaped centers. Coneflowers come in various colors, including purple, pink, white, and yellow, depending on the species and cultivar.
Here's how coneflower benefits pollinators:
- Rich in Nectar and Pollen: Coneflower produces abundant nectar and pollen, making it a valuable food source for a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The tubular disc florets in the center of the coneflower attract pollinators seeking nectar, while the surrounding ray florets provide easy access to pollen.
- Long Blooming Period: Coneflowers typically bloom from early summer to late fall, providing a consistent supply of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. This extended flowering period ensures that pollinators have access to food even when other flowering plants are not in bloom.
- Attracts a Variety of Pollinators: Coneflowers are known for their ability to attract diverse pollinators due to their abundant nectar and colorful flowers. Bees, including honeybees and native bees, are frequent visitors to coneflowers, along with butterflies, such as monarchs and swallowtails, and hummingbirds.
- Drought Tolerant and Easy to Grow: Coneflowers are well-adapted to a wide range of growing conditions, including dry, sunny areas with poor soil. They are drought-tolerant once established and require minimal maintenance, making them an excellent choice for pollinator gardens and landscapes.
- Native Plant Benefits: Many species of coneflower are native to North America, making them valuable additions to native plant gardens and restoration projects. By incorporating native coneflowers into your landscape, you can support local ecosystems and promote biodiversity.
Cosmos flowers are annual flowering plants native to Mexico and the southern United States. They are renowned for their delicate, daisy-like flowers that come in a range of colors, including white, pink, red, and purple. Cosmos flowers have a long blooming period, typically from early summer to fall, making them a popular choice for gardens, borders, and wildflower meadows.
Here's how cosmos flowers benefit pollinators:
- Abundant Nectar and Pollen: Cosmos flowers produce copious amounts of nectar, which serves as a valuable food source for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. The flowers also offer plentiful pollen, which is essential for the nutrition and reproduction of many insect species.
- Easy Accessibility: The open, daisy-like structure of cosmos flowers makes them easily accessible to a wide range of pollinators, including bees with varying tongue lengths, butterflies, and other flying insects. Pollinators can land on the flat, open petals and access the nectar and pollen with ease.
- Attracts a Variety of Pollinators: Cosmos flowers are known for their ability to attract a diverse array of pollinators, including native bees, honeybees, bumblebees, and butterflies. These pollinators are drawn to the colorful blooms and sweet nectar of cosmos flowers, enhancing the biodiversity of the garden.
- Long Blooming Period: Cosmos flowers have a prolonged blooming season, often lasting from early summer until the first frost. This extended flowering period provides a continuous source of food for pollinators throughout the growing season, supporting their health and well-being.
- Self-Sowing and Low Maintenance: Cosmos flowers readily self-sow, meaning they drop seeds that germinate and grow new plants without the need for human intervention. This self-sowing behavior makes cosmos flowers an easy-to-grow and low-maintenance addition to pollinator gardens, requiring minimal care once established.
Zinnia flowers are colorful annual plants native to Mexico and Central America. They are prized for their vibrant, daisy-like blooms that come in a wide range of colors, including red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and white. Zinnias are popular garden plants due to their long-lasting flowers, easy cultivation, and attractiveness to pollinators.
Here's how zinnia flowers benefit pollinators:
- Abundant Nectar and Pollen: Zinnia flowers produce ample amounts of nectar, which serves as a valuable food source for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. The flowers also offer abundant pollen, essential for the nutrition and reproduction of many insect species.
- Variety of Flower Shapes: Zinnia flowers come in various shapes and sizes, including single, semi-double, and double blooms. This diversity of flower forms provides options for different types of pollinators, accommodating those with varying feeding preferences and mouthpart structures.
- Long Blooming Period: Zinnias have a prolonged blooming season, typically from early summer to fall, providing a continuous source of food for pollinators throughout the growing season. Their extended flowering period ensures that pollinators have access to nectar and pollen even when other flowering plants are not in bloom.
- Attracts a Wide Range of Pollinators: Zinnias are known for their ability to attract a diverse array of pollinators, including bees (both native and honeybees), butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. The brightly colored blooms and sweet nectar of zinnias make them highly attractive to these beneficial insects and birds.
- Easy to Grow and Low Maintenance: Zinnias are easy-to-grow annuals that thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They are relatively low maintenance and require minimal care once established, making them an ideal choice for pollinator gardens and landscapes.
Sunflowers are iconic annual plants native to North America. They are characterized by their tall, sturdy stems and large, vibrant flowers with distinctive yellow petals and dark centers. Sunflowers are not only popular ornamental plants but also valuable crops grown for their nutritious seeds and oil.
Here's how sunflowers benefit pollinators:
- Abundant Nectar and Pollen: Sunflowers produce copious amounts of nectar, which serves as a rich food source for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. The flowers also offer abundant pollen, which is essential for the nutrition and reproduction of many insect species.
- Large Flower Heads: The large, conspicuous flower heads of sunflowers provide ample landing space for pollinators, making it easy for them to access the nectar and pollen. The numerous disc florets in the center of the flower contain the nectar and pollen, attracting a wide range of pollinators.
- Extended Blooming Period: Sunflowers have a long blooming season, typically from mid-summer to early fall, providing a continuous source of food for pollinators throughout the growing season. Their extended flowering period ensures that pollinators have access to nectar and pollen even when other flowering plants are not in bloom.
- Attracts a Variety of Pollinators: Sunflowers are known for their ability to attract diverse pollinators, including bees (both native bees and honeybees), butterflies, moths, and beetles. The large, colorful blooms and abundant nectar of sunflowers make them highly attractive to these beneficial insects.
- Nutrient-Rich Seeds: In addition to providing nectar and pollen for pollinators, sunflowers also produce nutritious seeds that are consumed by birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. By attracting seed-eating animals, sunflowers indirectly support local ecosystems and promote biodiversity.
Salvia, commonly known as sage, is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae). There are over 900 species of Salvia, ranging from annuals to woody shrubs, and they are distributed worldwide, with many species native to regions in Central and South America.
Here's how Salvia is good for pollinators:
- Abundant Nectar: Salvia plants produce abundant nectar, which attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The tubular-shaped flowers of many Salvia species are particularly well-suited for pollinators with long proboscises, such as certain species of bees and butterflies.
- Long Blooming Period: Salvia flowers typically have a long blooming period, often lasting from late spring through summer and into fall. This extended flowering period provides a consistent source of nectar for pollinators throughout the growing season, supporting their health and populations.
- Attractive to a Variety of Pollinators: Salvia flowers are known for their attractiveness to a diverse array of pollinators. Bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees, are frequent visitors to Salvia blooms, as are butterflies, such as monarchs and swallowtails. Additionally, certain species of hummingbirds are known to feed on the nectar of Salvia flowers.
- Colorful and Ornamental: Salvia plants are valued not only for their pollinator-attracting qualities but also for their ornamental value. Many species and cultivars of Salvia feature colorful flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, red, or white, adding beauty and visual interest to gardens and landscapes.
- Adaptability and Diversity: Salvia plants exhibit a wide range of growth habits, sizes, and environmental preferences, making them adaptable to various garden conditions. Whether grown as annuals, perennials, or shrubs, there is likely a Salvia species or cultivar suitable for nearly any garden or landscape.
From the vibrant blooms of sunflowers to the delicate petals of cosmos, each of these pollinator-friendly plants brings its own unique charm to the garden. While they share the common goal of attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with abundant nectar and pollen, their individual characteristics and blooming periods ensure a diverse and thriving ecosystem. Whether it's the towering stature of sunflowers, the easy accessibility of zinnias, the aromatic allure of lavender, the striking beauty of coneflowers, or the ornamental appeal of salvia, there's a perfect pollinator plant for every garden. Together, they create a tapestry of color, fragrance, and life, enriching our outdoor spaces and supporting the vital work of pollinators.
Check out this free guide for pollinator-friendly flowers:
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Companion planting is a gardening technique that can enhance flavor, increase yield, and repel pests, by planting certain plants in proximity. For tomato lovers, incorporating plants like basil, garlic, onions, carrots, lettuce, peppers, marigolds, nasturtiums, and borage into their garden not only benefits the tomatoes through improved growth and pest control but also adds diversity and beauty to their garden space. These companions serve various functions, from repelling pests such as mosquitoes, aphids, and tomato hornworms to attracting beneficial insects and improving soil conditions.
On the flip side, not all plants make good companions for tomatoes. Planting tomatoes near corn, potatoes, fennel, brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), kohlrabi, or walnut trees can lead to competition for nutrients, increased risk of diseases, and stunted growth due to the release of inhibitory compounds or shared vulnerabilities to pests and diseases. To ensure the health and productivity of tomato plants, it's critical to avoid these unfavorable pairings.
Effective garden planning involves considering companion planting principles to create a harmonious, productive garden. Incorporating beneficial flowers not only aids in pollination, making it an excellent strategy for beekeepers, but it can also provide additional resources for herbal teas and other uses. Being aware of which plants to pair or avoid can make a significant difference in gardening success, offering a natural way to achieve a thriving, diverse garden ecosystem.
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This week has been a whirlwind...no, make that a tornado. Just as a brief overview, this is how it has gone:
- Our daughter is getting married next month. Our budget has had to change due to some of the plans falling through and having to make adjustements.
- We found out we owe on taxes (shocker, right??) and need to work that out.
- My husband had emergency eye surgery this week, another unexpected expense that we need to work through.
We have been working on the wedding for a few months now, so I can't say that one is new to this week. However, the other 2 both happened just this week. Talk about sticker shock! Life is happening super fast and coming at us head on. And I know I'm not the only one it's happening to. This economy is hard on us all. Add in a few unexpected things and WHAM!
But here's the thing. God always provides for our needs. Blessings come in all shapes and sizes. Even though we have a lot going on, it's super important to look at all the blessings we have. This week I have spent a little extra time in prayer and thought just being aware of my many blessings.
- I have a family who loves me and is willing to help any way they can.
- I (with the help of my husband, of course) have raised 3 amazing kids who are willing and able to help in various ways.
- I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and a reliable van to get me where I need to go.
- Most importantly, I have GOD
These are the top blessings I have been reminding myself of this week. When times are hard it's way too easy to see all of the negative things around. The blessings mentioned above may seem a bit routine and obvious, but in times like this they are the biggest blessings that help me overcome.
It also helps to find scriptures to meditate on and help me remember who is in control. This is one of my favorites when my life seems like a tornado:
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
2 Corinthians 9:8
No matter how routine they may seem, always remember to count your blessings...especially during the hard times.
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Starting a homestead on your own can seem quite daunting, especially when you feel as if you a really are on your own. Maybe, like me, you didn't grow up on a homestead, you have never owned any land of your own, even preserving foods is a new thing. It's all very brand new and you don't know who to turn to when you have questions.
This is where having a local homestead community comes in quite handy. If you don't yet know any local homesteaders, here are a few tips to help you grow your local homesteading community:
1. Join a local farmers market. If you don't have something that you can sell then visit frequently and get to know the vendors. But, it's really not that hard to come up with ideas for a booth of your own. Veggies, homemade goods, handmade items, the ideas are endless. Just be sure you check your state's cottage laws to know what is and isn't allowed. If there is no local farmers market in your area, you can check in with the county office and see if there is a way to set one up.
2. This one is for homeschoolers: Join a local homeschool co-op. That may seem like an out of the box way of thinking, but trust me, it's golden! The number of connections I have made solely from our homeschool group are endless. What I have found is that other homeschoolers tend to have similar values, beliefs, and lifestyles.
Here's a short list of all that I have found within my homeschool co-op:
- grass-fed beef
- whole chickens (processed)
- eggs
- farmers market
- gardening skills
- baking skills
- homemade soaps, balms, etc
- natural remedies (info on what to use, practitioner info, etc)
- many more...this is just a short list.
3. If you are unable to do all that you want on your own (like raising cows to butcher, chickens for eggs, gardening, etc), talk to others in your community. Is there someone who loves to garden and has the space for a large garden, but doesn't have the time to put into it all? Can you offer your help with tending the garden and getting some of the fresh produce in return?
4. Check with your local trade school and either take classes or get names of homesteaders in the community who you can connect with.
5. Join a community garden (or start one if there isn't one). Check with your county office for info.
6. Join online groups/communities to help you connect with others in your area. This can be a great place when you have questions specific to the area you live in. Maybe you want to know more about your gardening zone or how to care for livestock during different types of weather. You can gain (and offer) a lot of insight in these kind of groups.
These are just some of the ways I have found useful in my homesteading journey. As I expand my knowledge and ability to do more, I know that I have a community of like-minded friends who are always willing and able to help. It may be teaching me how to process a chicken for meat, what to grow in my garden, or where to take the goats for auction...no matter what needs I have, chances are I can find the answers inside one of the above mentioned groups. And, as always, continue to follow me on my journey as I share with you tips I find useful along the way. You can also join my monthly membership where I share even more tips, recipes, education, and more!
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
Canning at home can seem like a daunting task, especially if you've never done it before or didn't grow up in a household where canning was a regular activity. The process requires a bit of courage and the right equipment to start preserving your own foods safely and effectively. From personal experience, the journey to mastering home canning can stem from necessity, such as the need to control dietary restrictions, and morph into a rewarding hobby that offers both satisfaction and a plethora of homemade goods.
To begin canning, certain tools are indispensable. These include a quality canner that can accommodate both water bath and pressure canning methods, canning jars along with new lids and rings, essential canning tools like a funnel, jar lifter, and bubble remover, and labels to ensure everything is clearly marked with contents and date processed. It's essential to ensure that jars are free from nicks or cracks and that lids have an intact seal to ensure the safety and longevity of the canned goods.
Lastly, proper storage and adherence to approved canning recipes are crucial to the success and safety of your canning endeavors. Canned goods should be kept in a dark, cool place like a pantry, and older items should be used first to maintain freshness. By utilizing only approved and tested recipes, you safeguard against the potential risks of foodborne illnesses, ensuring that your home-canned foods are not only delicious but safe to consume. This beginning guide underscores the importance of preparation, quality supplies, and following safety guidelines to embark on your own canning journey.
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