Pollinator Preservation: How to Help Bees, Butterflies, and Other Pollinators in Your Garden

Imagine your garden on a summer morning: bees buzz between blossoms, butterflies flit from flower to flower, and a hummingbird hovers by a trumpet-shaped bloom. This lively scene is more than just a delight for gardeners – it’s a crucial ecological process. Pollinator preservation is all about protecting these beneficial creatures so they can continue pollinating plants and keeping our ecosystems (and food supply) thriving. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore what pollinators are, why they matter, the threats they face, and how you can help pollinators right in your own backyard. From planting pollinator plants and wildflower mixes to creating bee-friendly habitats and using pesticides responsibly, we’ll cover actionable steps to make your garden a haven for bees, butterflies, and more. We’ll also highlight some pollinator-friendly seed products from Bentley Seeds – like their popular Pollinator Wildflower Mix – and how sharing seeds through gifts and eco-friendly promotions can support pollinator health. Let’s dive in and discover how to help pollinators while growing a beautiful garden!

What Are Pollinators and Why Do They Matter?

Pollinators include a wide variety of animals – not just honeybees. Bees (honeybees and thousands of native bee species), butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, beetles, flies, and even bats are all pollinators. When these creatures visit flowers for nectar or pollen, they inadvertently transfer pollen from one bloom to another, fertilizing the plants. This pollination allows plants to produce fruits and seeds. In fact, pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of about 75% of the world’s flowering plants.

The importance of pollinators extends to our food supply and the broader ecological and food system roles they play. Roughly 35% of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators – that’s nearly one out of every three bites of food we eat that exists thanks to pollinators. Everything from apples and almonds to tomatoes and pumpkins relies on bees, butterflies, or birds for pollination. In the United States alone, insect pollination services add over $34 billion in economic value to crops each year, ensuring we have abundant fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Beyond food, pollinators support healthy ecosystems: they enable wild plants to reproduce, which in turn provides habitat and food for other wildlife, maintains biodiversity, prevents soil erosion, and even helps with carbon sequestration. In short, pollinator preservation is critical not only for gardens but for agriculture, ecosystems, and environmental health globally.

The Threats Facing Pollinators

Despite their importance, many pollinator species are in decline. Habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and diseases are creating a perfect storm of challenges for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating animals. As of recently, more than 70 pollinator species (including certain bees and butterflies) are officially listed as endangered or threatened, and many others are experiencing steep drops in population. Here are some of the major threats to pollinators:

• Habitat Loss: Urban development and intensive agriculture have reduced the natural habitats of pollinators. Wildflower meadows and prairies have been replaced by roadways, lawns, and monoculture crops. With fewer flowering plants and safe nesting sites, pollinators struggle to find the food and shelter they need. For migratory pollinators like monarch butterflies, the loss of habitat along migration routes makes their long journeys even more perilous. A striking example is the monarch’s reliance on milkweed – vast areas of native milkweed have been wiped out by herbicides and land use changes, contributing to a 90% decline in monarch populations in some regions. Less habitat means fewer pollinators surviving and reproducing.

• Pesticides: Widespread use of pesticides (especially certain insecticides like neonicotinoids) can be highly toxic to pollinators. Chemicals meant to kill pests can also poison bees and butterflies or disrupt their navigation and breeding. Improper pesticide use can harm pollinators and other beneficial insects. For instance, spraying a flowering plant with a broad-spectrum insecticide can kill visiting bees. Even herbicides that eliminate wildflowers (weeds) remove food sources for pollinators. Pesticide exposure, when combined with other stressors, weakens pollinator immune systems and can be deadly.

• Climate Change: Changing climate patterns are also taking a toll. Warmer temperatures are causing flowers to bloom earlier or distributions of plants to shift, which can throw off the timing for pollinators that depend on those blooms. Heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather can directly impact pollinator survival and breeding. Recent studies indicate that North American bumblebee populations have declined nearly 50% since the 1970s, with the biggest losses in regions with the greatest temperature increases. Climate change can also exacerbate other threats, like increasing the spread of parasites or invasive plant species that outcompete native pollinator plants.

• Diseases and Parasites: Both managed honeybee colonies and wild pollinators face diseases and parasites. Honeybees, for example, have been battling issues like varroa mites, viruses, and fungal diseases that contribute to colony losses. Native bees and butterflies can also be affected by fungal or viral pathogens. Sometimes diseases spread when non-native species (including commercially managed bumblebees or butterflies) mix with wild populations. A weakened pollinator (due to poor nutrition or pesticide exposure) is even more susceptible to illness.

• Invasive Species: Invasive plants can overrun landscapes and reduce the diversity of flowering plants that pollinators need. If a non-native plant crowds out all the native wildflowers, pollinators might not recognize or be able to use the invasive plant for food. Invasive insects and animals can also prey on or outcompete native pollinators. For instance, invasive Africanized bees compete with native bees, and invasive wasps or hornets (like the notorious “murder hornet”) can prey on honeybees. These disruptions further threaten pollinator survival.

All these challenges underscore why pollinator preservation matters so much. The decline of pollinators isn’t just a loss of beautiful butterflies or charming bees – it poses a risk to our food security and the health of ecosystems worldwide. The good news is that there’s a lot that home gardeners and communities can do to fight back and help pollinators thrive.

5 Ways to Help Pollinators in Your Home Garden

One of the most effective strategies for pollinator preservation starts at home. Your garden – whether a few containers on a balcony or a big backyard plot – can become a sanctuary for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. By making thoughtful choices in how you garden, you can provide much-needed food, habitat, and safety for these creatures. Here are five actionable steps and pollinator-friendly gardening tips to help these essential animals:

1. Plant a Diversity of Pollinator-Friendly Flowers: Grow a pollinator buffet. The single best way to help pollinators is to plant pollinator plants – flowers rich in nectar and pollen. Aim for a diverse mix of plants that will bloom from spring through fall, ensuring a continuous food supply. Include a variety of flower colors and shapes to attract different pollinators (bees often love purple, blue, and yellow blooms, while hummingbirds seek red, tubular flowers). Native wildflowers are especially valuable, as local pollinators evolved with them and find them extra nutritious and attractive. For example, planting wild bergamot (bee balm) or purple coneflower in the U.S. provides familiar high-value food for native bees and butterflies. Clumping plants of the same species together can create a target-rich feeding area for pollinators. If you’re not sure where to start, consider sowing a wildflower seed mix. Bentley Seeds’ Pollinator Wildflower Mix is a ready-to-sow blend of annual and perennial flowers specifically chosen to nourish bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and more. This mix (included in many Bentley Seeds packets) features favorites like cosmos, coreopsis, asters, black-eyed Susans, purple coneflower, and others that provide nectar and pollen through multiple seasons. By planting a diverse pollinator garden, you’ll not only help pollinators find food – you’ll also be rewarded with a beautiful, colorful garden alive with movement and life.

2. Provide Shelter and Nesting Sites: Make your garden a pollinator habitat, not just a food stop. Pollinators need more than just flowers; they also require safe places to live, breed, and overwinter. Different pollinators have different habitat needs. Many native bees are solitary and nest in the ground – leaving a few areas of exposed, undisturbed soil or a sandy slope can create nesting spots for mining bees and bumblebees. Other bees (like mason bees and leafcutter bees) will take up residence in small hollows; you can install bee hotels or simply drill holes in a block of wood and mount it in a dry spot to invite these gentle pollinators. Butterflies need sheltered areas to lay eggs and form chrysalises; you can plant specific host plants for caterpillars (e.g., milkweed for monarch caterpillars, parsley or dill for swallowtail caterpillars) and leave some “wild” areas in your yard with leaf litter or stems where butterflies can pupate. Even a small brush pile or a few logs in a corner can provide refuge for pollinating beetles or bumblebee queens. Don’t be too quick to clean up every bit of garden debris – leaving dried stalks and leaves through winter can protect overwintering pollinators. In short, think of your garden not just as pretty flower beds but as a functioning habitat. A mix of flowering plants, native grasses, and a bit of natural messiness can create a welcoming environment where pollinators can feed and raise their young.

3. Offer Water and Extra Resources: Quench the thirst of your backyard pollinators. Just like us, pollinators need water. It’s easy to add a shallow water source in your garden for bees, butterflies, and birds. For example, set out a shallow dish or birdbath and fill it with fresh water, adding a few stones or floating wine corks for insects to land on (so they don’t drown). Butterflies also enjoy mineral-rich mud puddles – you can create a small mud area or set out a dish with wet sand and a pinch of salt; butterflies will sip the water to get nutrients. Hummingbirds appreciate shallow moving water or mist to bathe in, so a little fountain or mister can attract them. Additionally, consider leaving out some overripe fruit on a plate for butterflies (they love fermenting fruit juices) or hanging a hummingbird feeder with sugar water (be sure to clean it regularly). By catering to their hydration and nutrient needs, you turn your garden into a full-service pollinator spa! A reliable water source, especially during hot, dry periods, can greatly increase the number of pollinators that visit and linger in your yard.

4. Garden Without Harmful Pesticides: Make your garden a safe zone for pollinators. One of the actionable steps for home gardeners to preserve pollinators is rethinking pest control. Pesticides – particularly insecticides – can inadvertently kill or harm bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. The easiest solution is to avoid using pesticides in your yard whenever possible. Embrace organic gardening techniques and Integrated Pest Management (IPM): focus on building healthy soil and plants, hand-pick pests, use physical barriers or traps, and encourage natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings, birds) to control pests. If you must use a pesticide, choose targeted, pollinator-safe options and use them responsibly. Never spray open blossoms or areas where pollinators are active. It’s best to apply sprays in the evening, when bees and butterflies have returned to their nests, and avoid times when plants are in full bloom. Always follow label instructions carefully – look for warnings about bees. (Many chemical labels now explicitly say to avoid application when bees are “visiting” the plant.) Also, opt for products that break down quickly and are less toxic. For example, insecticidal soaps or neem oil can handle aphids or mites with less risk to bees (but still use them with care and only on targeted plants, not across your whole garden). By minimizing or eliminating chemical use, you’ll make your garden a safe haven for pollinators rather than a danger zone. Remember, a few chewed leaves are a small price to pay for a garden alive with butterflies and bees. A healthy, balanced garden ecosystem will have some pests but also plenty of predators and pollinators – that balance is what you want to achieve.

5. Share Seeds and Spread Awareness: Inspire others to join the pollinator movement. Pollinator preservation is most effective when the idea spreads. One simple but powerful way to support pollinators beyond your own yard is through seed gifting and eco-friendly promotions. Giving friends or neighbors a packet of pollinator-friendly seeds can encourage them to plant flowers for bees and butterflies, expanding pollinator habitat throughout the community. Consider swapping seeds with fellow gardeners or gifting wildflower seed packets as party favors, holiday gifts, or thank-you tokens. (For example, instead of handing out candy or trinkets at events, how about giving guests a pretty packet of wildflower seeds?) Many organizations give away seed packets during Earth Day, Pollinator Week, or community events to promote planting for pollinators. Bentley Seeds makes this easy with their themed pollinator seed packets that are perfect for sharing. Their “Bee The Change” Pollinator Flower Mix packets, for instance, are designed for outreach – a bright orange packet filled with a mix of bee-friendly flower seeds that covers about 10 square feet of ground. It’s a great conversation starter and call-to-action (“Bee the Change”) that you can hand out to friends, students, or at farmer’s markets. Eco-friendly promotions like these not only raise awareness but also get more flowers planted. Likewise, Bentley Seeds’ Pollination Celebration mix comes in an attractive packet ideal for weddings or corporate events, combining a party favor with a positive environmental impact. By sharing seeds and knowledge about pollinators, you empower more people to make a difference. Even posting photos of your pollinator garden on social media or putting up a “Pollinator Habitat” sign can spark conversations. The more people join in planting for pollinators, the more connected habitat our bees and butterflies will have across urban and suburban landscapes. In short: spread the word, and spread the seeds!

Best Flowers for Bees and Butterflies (Top Pollinator Plants)

One of the most common questions from gardeners is, “What are the best flowers for bees and butterflies?” Creating a pollinator-friendly garden means choosing plants that provide high-quality nectar and pollen. While any bloom can offer something, some flowers are superstar pollinator plants known to attract and support lots of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Here’s a list of top pollinator-friendly flowers (annuals and perennials) that do well in many U.S. gardens. Try adding a bunch of these to your garden to create a vibrant, pollinator-attracting display:

• Wildflower Mixes: Can’t choose? Mixes offer variety! A curated wildflower mix (like Bentley Seeds’ Pollinator Wildflower Mix) contains dozens of species that collectively bloom from early summer to fall. Wildflower mixes often include a balance of annuals (for first-year color) and perennials (for long-term habitat). They’re an easy way to get a pollinator garden started with one seed packet. Simply scatter the seeds in a sunny spot, water, and watch a rainbow of bee-loved blooms appear – from daisies and cosmos to coneflowers and coreopsis. These mixes provide nectar for bees and butterflies, plus seeds for birds later on, making your garden a mini-ecosystem.

• Milkweed (Asclepias): A must-have if you want to support monarch butterflies. Milkweeds (such as butterfly weed, common milkweed, and swamp milkweed) produce nectar-rich flowers that many pollinators enjoy, but more importantly, they are the sole host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed, and the emerging caterpillars feed on its leaves. By planting native milkweed species, you’ll attract monarchs and help bolster their populations. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), with its bright orange blooms, is an especially garden-friendly milkweed that attracts bees and hummingbirds too.

• Bee Balm (Monarda): Aptly named, bee balm is a magnet for pollinators. This native perennial (also called wild bergamot or monarda) has pom-pom like flower clusters in red, pink, or purple that are a favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Bee balm blooms in mid-summer, providing a rich nectar source during the peak of butterfly season. As a bonus, its leaves are fragrant (mint family) and can be used to make tea. Plant bee balm in a sunny spot with good air circulation (to avoid mildew) and enjoy the pollinator party it invites.

• Coneflowers (Echinacea): The classic Purple Coneflower and its relatives are superstar pollinator perennials. Their large, daisy-like purple (or pink, orange, white) flowers have a central cone loaded with nectar and pollen. Bees of all types will buzz around coneflowers, and you’ll often see butterflies like painted ladies and swallowtails feeding on them. Coneflowers bloom from summer into early fall. They are drought-tolerant and easy to grow. Leave the spent flower heads on the plants in fall – not only might they reseed, but the seed cones will attract goldfinches and other birds. Bentley Seeds includes purple coneflower in their pollinator mixes because it’s such a reliable food source for pollinators.

• Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia): These cheerful yellow daisies with dark centers are more than just a pretty face – they’re excellent pollinator plants. Black-eyed Susans (and related Gloriosa daisies) bloom over a long period in summer, drawing in bees, butterflies, and even beneficial wasps and beetles that pollinate. They are hardy and sun-loving, perfect for wildflower borders or meadow-style plantings. Pollinators like butterflies often land on their broad petals to sip nectar from the central disk flowers. Like coneflowers, their seed heads also feed birds if left on the plant. They’re an easy, low-maintenance addition to any pollinator garden.

• Lavender and Other Herbs: Don’t overlook herbs – many have flowers that pollinators adore. Lavender is famous for its fragrant purple flower spikes that draw honeybees and bumblebees in droves. Plant English or Spanish lavender in a sunny, well-drained spot and enjoy both its scent and the bees it brings. Other great herbs for pollinators include oregano, thyme, basil, mint, and sage. If you let these herbs bolt (flower), you’ll find they become busy feeding stations for small native bees and even butterflies. For example, a simple oregano plant can be covered with bee activity when in full bloom. These plants serve dual purposes – you get culinary uses from the leaves and pollinators get nourishment from the blooms.

• Sunflowers and Cosmos: Annual flowers like sunflowers and cosmos are easy to grow from seed and provide abundant pollen and nectar. Sunflowers (Helianthus) not only feed bees with pollen (some varieties also produce nectar) but later in the season their large seed heads become bird feeders. Even a few sunflowers at the back of a garden or along a fence will support bees (you might spot native bumblebees literally rolling in the pollen on a sunflower face!) and then provide seeds for cardinals and finches. Cosmos, with their dainty daisy-like blooms in pink, white, and orange, are butterfly favorites – monarchs and swallowtails often flock to cosmos patches. They bloom all summer and fall until frost, keeping the buffet open for pollinators. Both sunflowers and cosmos are part of Bentley Seeds’ pollinator mixes, or you can sow them separately for concentrated patches of color and activity.

• Asters and Goldenrod: As summer winds down, the pollinator buffet shouldn’t end. For late-season blooms, asters (perennial varieties) and goldenrods are crucial. These fall-blooming flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, offering fuel for migrating monarchs and sustenance for bees preparing for winter. Asters produce clusters of purple, blue, or white starry flowers that attract butterflies in droves during autumn. Goldenrod’s bright golden plumes (often unfairly blamed for allergies – the real culprit is ragweed) are a bee magnet in late summer and fall. By including a few asters or goldenrod in your garden, you ensure there’s food for pollinators in the shoulder seasons, not just high summer.

Of course, this list is just a starting point – there are many more pollinator plants out there (from clover in your lawn to blooming trees like fruit trees or redbud). The key is diversity and having something in bloom for as much of the year as possible. Mix and match perennials with annuals and wildflower mixes for the best results. And remember, even a small container garden with a handful of these plants can make a difference. Every flower planted is one more food source for a hungry bee or butterfly!

Seed Gifting: Small Packets, Big Impact

A unique and heartwarming aspect of pollinator preservation is how it can bring people together. Seed gifting is an emerging trend in eco-friendly living – sharing small packets of seeds (often wildflowers) to encourage gardening and habitat creation. When you give someone a packet of pollinator-friendly seeds, you’re not just giving them flowers; you’re giving them the opportunity to make a positive impact on pollinator health. This could be as simple as including seed packets in holiday cards, wedding favors, or corporate giveaways. Businesses and nonprofits are also getting involved by distributing branded seed packets as a green promotional item, spreading both their message and literal wildflowers at the same time. Bentley Seeds specializes in these kinds of seed packets, providing custom designs for occasions like Earth Day, company events, or weddings, all filled with their Pollinator Wildflower Mix or other special blends. It’s a win-win: recipients enjoy planting the seeds and watching flowers grow, and pollinators benefit from the new blooms. If you’ve ever received a seed packet labeled “Save the Bees” or “Butterfly Garden Mix,” you know how a small gift can raise awareness and prompt action. Consider ways you might share seeds in your community – perhaps a little free library that also stocks seed packets, or a neighborhood project to scatter wildflower seeds in neglected areas (with permission, of course). By gifting seeds and promoting pollinator-friendly gardening, each of us can multiply our impact, turning many small gardens into one big movement for pollinator preservation.

Conclusion: Growing a Brighter Future for Pollinators

Pollinator preservation is ultimately about coexistence and stewardship. By understanding the vital role of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators – and by taking even small steps like planting flowers or reducing pesticide use – we become part of the solution to the pollinator crisis. The beauty of it is that helping pollinators also makes our gardens more beautiful and bountiful. A yard filled with diverse blooms will not only support pollinators and contribute to ecological health, but it will also reward you with a vibrant outdoor space teeming with life and color. As you plan your next planting season, think about how you can weave in more pollinator plants and habitat features. Maybe this is the year you start that wildflower patch with a Bentley Seeds Pollinator Mix, or hang up a bee house, or talk to your neighbors about skipping the lawn chemicals. Each action, no matter how small, adds nectar to the pot, so to speak.

By implementing the tips in this guide – planting a variety of pollinator-friendly flowers, providing shelter and water, gardening without harmful pesticides, and sharing seeds and knowledge – you are actively preserving pollinators for future generations. It’s gardeners like you, across the country, who can create a patchwork of safe havens that collectively make a massive difference. So get out there and cultivate some pollinator paradise! Whether you’re nurturing a single pot of flowers on a city balcony or managing a rural acre of meadow, know that your efforts matter. Here’s to seeing your garden come alive with the buzz of bees and the flutter of butterfly wings – a sure sign that you’re helping pollinators thrive. Happy gardening, and thank you for being a friend to the pollinators!