My Pollinator Pal
For the Bees, Butterflies, and Hummingbirds in Your Backyard
A little bit about who visits your garden, what they need, and a few things that help.
Every backyard can become a haven for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other essential pollinators.
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Leafcutter Bee - photo by USGSBIML Team
Zebra Swallowtail - photo by Elizabeth A. Sellers
Rufous Hummingbird - photo by Dave Menke, USFWS
White Lined Sphinx Moth - photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS
Who You Might See
A few of the visitors your garden might already be hosting.Bees — Not just honeybees. Native species like mason bees and bumblebees do most of the pollinating work in a home garden.Butterflies — Monarchs, swallowtails, and skippers pass through gardens with the right host plants and nectar sources.Hummingbirds — Drawn to tubular, brightly colored flowers, especially reds and oranges.Moths — Often overlooked, but many moth species pollinate at dusk and overnight, when bees and butterflies are inactive.
Pollinators Are Essential
More than a third of North America's native bee species are at elevated risk of extinction — and it's not just bees. Roughly one in five native pollinators, from butterflies to moths, face the same threat. Habitat loss is one of the biggest drivers, which means backyard gardens can genuinely help.Read the full study
What Helps
Small habitat choices matter more than people think:* Native plants matter more than any feeder.
* Water sources are as important as flowers.
* Leaving some "mess" (leaf litter, bare soil, dead stems) shelters overwintering pollinators.
*Going pesticide-free is non-negotiable.
Some links below may be affiliate links.
In the Garden
A few things we've found useful — feeders, water dishes, and habitat tools for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.Squirrel-Resistant Bird Feeders →Wooden Bee House Pollinator Shelter →Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden Lighting →Hummingbird Feeder with Ant Barrier →Bug Catcher Magnifying Glass →
Black-eyed Susan - photo by Genna Weber on Unsplash
Coneflower - photo by Jeffrey Hamilton on Unsplash
Milkweed with Monarch - photo by slipacre on Unsplash
Plants & Seeds
We don't sell live plants or seeds ourselves. If you're in New England or New York, Northeast Pollinator Plants is a solid regional option. For everyone else — or if you'd rather shop locally — Xerces Society's Pollinator Conservation Resource Center lists native plant suppliers by region, and NWF Native Plant Finder can show you what's native to your specific zip code.
Our Mission
To help more people create welcoming habitats for pollinators, and make that education simple, enjoyable, and accessible.Every garden can make a difference.
