JAY C. HORMEL NATURE CENTER
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pollinator garden


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Why have a pollinator garden?
Pollinators are an essential part of nature and ecosystems because they allow for plants to reproduce. Some of our favorite foods even need pollinators to grow! Although their job is a crucial part of ecosystems all over the world pollinators everywhere are in danger. With the loss of habitat and use of chemical pesticides pollinators are put at risk and their populations are being threatened. 
Fortunately, even the smallest native garden can help! From urban rooftop gardens to vase country estates, all you need is a small plot to help struggling native pollinators. 
Having a pollinator garden is a great and easy way to spruce up your yard and help promote happy and healthy pollinators.


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Where do I start?
For a successful pollinator garden consider the following:
  1. Choosing plants that are native to your region. They do great in this zone as they have been thriving here for hundreds of years. A lot of native bees and butterfly populations are in decline due to the lack of pollinator plants that they need to get their food!
  2. The native plants that you choose should be nectar and pollen rich flowers. The bigger range of shape, size, and colors the better! When you increase the diversity of your garden you can fill the needs of more pollinators, many of which have specific tastes or unique techniques on how they gather nectar and pollen.
  3. When picking out plants make sure to avoid modern hybrids, many of which have been bred to have larger blooms but are unable to produce nectar and pollen. These types of flowers defeat the purpose of a pollinator garden since these flowers only look nice and do nothing for pollinators who look for flowers as a resting spot and food source!  
  4. The bigger the variety the better! Not only picking different heights and colors but also what time of the year they bloom. This will allow for your garden to be in bloom from early spring through early fall, and will provide ample food for pollinators all season long as well.
  5. When you plant your natives for your garden, plant them in drifts (keep the like flowers near each other). The larger drifts of colors make it easier for pollinators to find them.
  6. When thinking about which plants to promote pollinator visits to your space, consider having larval host plants for butterflies and moths. Some species of butterflies and moths need specific plants to eat when they are in their larval form. For example, Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed, Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillars like spicebush and sassafras, while Black Swallowtail caterpillars eat plants in the parsley family. If your garden provides larval host plants, as well as places for the adult to eat, you are increasing your chances of more pollinator visits! 

Contact                                                   
Jay C. Hormel Nature Center
1304 21st St NE
Austin, MN 55912
Phone: (507) 437-7519
Email: info@hormelnaturecenter.org

Fax: (507) 396-2903
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  • Home
  • About
    • eNewsletters
    • FAQ/Rules
    • Trail Map
    • Education Programs
    • History
    • Staff
    • Nature Center Gifts
    • Ski & Snowshoe Rental
    • Injured/Abandoned Animals
    • 50th Anniversary
  • Programs & Events
    • Upcoming Programs and Events
    • Summer Classes
    • Calendar of Events
    • Nature Play Afternoons
    • Senior Specials
    • Eco-Blitz: Tree Week
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Friends of the Hormel Nature Center
    • Summer Mentorship Program
    • Employment
  • Facility Rental
  • Sola Fide Observatory
    • Night Sky Viewing Guide
  • Resources
    • Scavenger Hunts
    • Nature Notes
    • Radio: What's New In Nature?
    • Rain Garden
    • Pollinator Garden
    • Gravel Bed Tree Nursery
    • Sustainable Tips
    • Environmental Education Resources
  • Track Power Chair Rentals