Imagine bushes abuzz with bees, resplendent butterflies flashing about, and birdsong permeating the air – all right in your very own yard. By adding a few key elements to your garden or landscape, you can turn your landscape into a flourishing habitat and start witnessing sights fit for National Geographic!
Birds, Bees and Butterflies: Gardening for Wildlife
Let Water University help you build your backyard habitat. This comprehensive presentation is packed with tips for inviting wildlife. Discover which native plants entice specific pollinating insects and birds and how to round out your habitat with food and shelter sources.
Certified Wildlife Habitats
For a quick guide to the key building blocks of a successful Wildlife Habitat, check out National Wildlife Federation’s short 7 part video series. Start with the video below. Allow auto play to queue up each subsequent video and enjoy the entire series. Great to watch with the whole family. Have you installed all the components of a successful wildlife habitat? Register your Certified Wildlife Habitat here.
How to Plant a Pollinator Garden
Are you limited on space or not up for a whole backyard project? Here is a simple how-to video for creating a pollinator garden in a small sunny spot by Roger Cook of This Old House. Learn how to determine the proper location, prep soil, choose plants and add biodiversity through the addition of a water feature. Please note some plants suggested are localized and not native varieties.
Butterfly Puddle
Pollinating is important and thirsty work! Create a small oasis for butterflies and bees to sip from using tips in this video by Walter Reeves.
Get to know your new neighbors with these wildlife guides:
Did you spot a species you need help identifying? Upload a picture to iNaturalist to get help.
Register your pollinator garden with The Woodlands Township. Want to know how your garden can earn cash with the newest village challenge? Read more here.
Join us tomorrow for the final day of online programming as we explore How To Create a Healthy and Beautiful Lawn.
That’s not a misprint. Thanks to our sponsors, The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N., and Project PolliNation, cash awards will be given to the three village associations with the most points earned in the Plant for Pollinators Village Challenge. First place will be awarded $750, second place $500 and third place $250. These funds support village association scholarship programs. Simply put, your garden can grow money.
Since the Village Challenge began in June 2020, residents have reached out to learn more about the program. We’re answering your most asked questions below.
What is the Plant for Pollinators Village Challenge?
This community challenge, created by The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department, encourages residents to support pollinators by providing food, shelter and a space free of harmful chemicals. Residents register their garden and share actions they’ve taken to provide a habitat for bees, butterflies, moths and more.
Just like the Water-Wise and Recycling Village Challenges, residents earn points which equal cash for scholarships. Registrations submitted June 1 through December 1, 2020 earn a point for the village where the garden is located.
The Challenge is part of the Plant for Pollinators Program, which supports Township-wide efforts to support and increase our pollinator populations. On-going efforts include distribution of milkweed to the public, installation of pollinator gardens in parks and schools, and educational outreach.
I’m not a fan of insects. Why would I want to attract them to my yard?
Pollinator gardens attract bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, bats, and even hummingbirds. These beneficial insects go to work in your garden pollinating flowers, fruit trees and vegetable gardens. Did you know that we rely on pollinators for roughly one third of the food that we eat? Our natural environment is even more reliant on their services.
Maybe you’re having trouble with nuisance insects in your yard. Pollinator gardening can help. The native plants you add will attract birds and bats to control those unwanted pests. They’ll increase your biodiversity so that no single pest takes over. And, you’ll love the year-round flowers.
I’ve never gardened before. Where do I start?
We suggest starting with the Plant for Pollinators Garden Registration Form. Each section (Shelter, Nectar Plants, Host Plants, Water Source) highlights essential elements for a pollinator garden. You likely have many of these in your yard already. For example, a loblolly pine tree is a host plant for elfin butterflies. Your wooden fence provides covered space for a caterpillar to form a chrysalis. Bare ground serves as a nesting site for native bees. And your fountain, provided its chemical-free, is an excellent source of water.
Determine how much space you want to dedicate to your garden, how much sun that area receives and how what the soil is like. Is it sandy, full of clay or a mix of both? Does it stay moist or dry quickly? This is all important information to lead you to your next step – plant selection.
To attract a specific pollinator to your yard, find out what plants they need or are most drawn to. Monarch butterflies enjoy nectar from many plants but only lay their eggs on milkweed. The color red attracts hummingbirds and bees are drawn to a variety of flowers, especially blue, purple, white and yellow.
Make a list and then head out to a local garden center or nursery. A few things to keep in mind:
Plant flowers in groups. Pollinators are drawn to bunches of flowering plants; much easier than searching through the garden for a single plant.
Provide flowering plants for each season. Some pollinators do migrate, so you may only see them once or twice a year as they pass through. However, there are plenty of pollinators that will visit year-round in search of food. As flowers die back in spring, add plants that will bloom throughout the summer, and so on.
Start simple. Do you have plants that provide pollen and nectar? Does your yard provide shelter and water? Is your garden safe from harsh chemicals? Great! Sounds like you’ve started a pollinator garden.
I live in an apartment or condo. How can I help pollinators?
Good news! While bigger is better, small spaces can still provide value for pollinators. Container gardens work well on balconies and patios, especially if they are complemented by a nearby water source and wild native vegetation like oak trees and beautyberry. And they count towards the Village Challenge, too – don’t forget to register!
I registered my garden before June 1, 2020. Do I need to register it again?
No need to register again. While the Village Challenge officially kicked off on June 1, 2020, nearly 40 residents had already registered their gardens. Those registrations have been counted towards the 2020 Village Challenge. However, if you’ve made improvements to your pollinator garden since you registered, we would love to hear about it. Send us an email, or better yet, share a photo with us at enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.
As of August 1, more than 100 residents have registered their pollinator gardens as part of the village challenge. Photo credit: Sarah Ferderer
How do I register my garden?
There are two options. You can submit your registration online, or you can download the form here and then send your completed registration to enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov. Be sure to submit your garden registration by December 1, 2020 to be included in this year’s Village Challenge.
So, register today, earn a point for your village and support pollinators. There are cash prizes on the line along with bragging rights for your village. Most importantly, you’ll be rewarded with a garden buzzing with activity you can enjoy year-round.
Questions or comments? Email enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
Imagine a garden in full bloom. Every color you can think of exists as a delicate flower, their sweet scent drifting on a slight breeze. Bees and butterflies visit daily. Hummingbirds stop by in the evening. And that bit of rain last week means you don’t have to water for a few more days. You have a thriving, low maintenance garden and it’s the middle of summer in Texas. Sound impossible? Not when you add native, heat-tolerant perennials to your garden. Check out this list of five plants that are low maintenance, attract wildlife and bloom all summer long.
1. Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides)
Hearty perennial. Deciduous shrub.
Height of 3-6′ and spread up to 5’ wide.
Flower: red, orange and yellow tubular flowers in dense, rounded clusters.
Produces round, fleshy, dark blue to black fruits. Berries are toxic to humans and most mammals.
Bloom Time: April – October
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Full Sun; Partial Shade
Soil Description: Well-drained soils
Maintenance: Low. Prune down to ground in winter to control spread.
Use Wildlife: Attracts bees and birds, including hummingbirds and butterflies. Deer resistant.
2. Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea)
Tender perennial that reseeds easily.
Height of 1-3′ and spread up to 2’ wide
Flower: Florescent red tubular flowers
Bloom Time: February – October
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun; Partial Shade
Soil Description: sandy to gravelly soil
Maintenance: Low. Deadhead and trim periodically to create bushier shape.
Use Wildlife: Attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Deer resistant.
3. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Bushy perennial
Height of 2′ and spread up to 2’ wide
Flower: large clusters of bright orange flowers
Bloom Time: May – September
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Full sun
Soil Description: well-drained, sandy soil
Maintenance: Medium. May attract aphids, which you can leave for ladybugs to eat or spray off by blasting the plant with a high pressure stream of water.
Use Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Larval host for Grey Hairstreak, Monarch and Queen butterflies. Deer resistant.
4. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
A shrubby, well branched plant.
Height of 2-5′ and spread up to 2-3’ wide.
Flower: Lavender flowers with domed, purplish-brown, spiny centers.
Bloom Time: April – September
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun; Partial Shade
Soil Description: well-drained, sandy or richer soils
Maintenance: Low
Use Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Dead flower heads left standing in winter will attract birds who feed on the remaining seeds.
5. Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis)
Upright, herbaceous perennial that exudes a milky sap when cut. Can cause skin irritation.
Height of 2′ and spread up to 2’ wide.
Flower: white clusters of flowers. Some may have a pink, purple or greenish tint in the center of the flower.
Bloom Time: April – September
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: well-drained soil. Does well in poor to rich soil conditions.
Maintenance: Low
Use Wildlife: Attracts butterflies. Larval host plant for Monarch and Queen butterflies. Deer resistant.
Photo courtesy of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, credit: Sandy Smith
These five featured plants are perfect for Texas summers. Native plants, like these, not only add beauty to a garden but require less water, fertilizer and pesticides because they evolved to survive in these tough conditions. Consider adding a few to the garden this summer. Be sure to keep them well-watered until they have established deep roots. You’ll soon be rewarded with a low maintenance garden full of blooms.
These plants qualify for a native plant rebate from Woodlands Water Agency. If you are a Woodlands resident and live in Montgomery County, be sure to check out the complete list of rebates available here.
Questions or comments? Email enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
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Residents are encouraged to support pollinators by registering their garden or yard in the newest Village Challenge. The Plant for Pollinators Village Challenge aims to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and how habitat creation can support pollinator populations. Many pollinators, including monarch butterflies, have seen a significant decline in the last few decades due to overuse of pesticides and herbicides and loss of habitat. Take action today to protect bees, butterflies, moths and many more pollinators.
Local pollinator garden highlight Photo Credit: Andy Native plants provide food and shelter in a small backyard garden
Local pollinator garden highlight Photo credit: Sarah Ferderer The pollinator perimeter at the Veggie Village garden, located at the Alden Bridge Sports Complex, provides a variety of native and adapted plants for bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects to enjoy
Local pollinator garden highlight Photo credit: Sarah Ferderer This well designed front yard blooms year round, inviting many pollinators to visit
Registered gardens provide the basic needs of pollinators, including food, shelter and water in a chemical free zone. The garden registration form highlights the many ways you can help pollinators, like offering nectar-producing plants for every season, leaving bare ground for burrowing insects and providing host plants so insects can lay eggs. The form is a great guide for those looking to start a pollinator garden offering many options including native plant lists, shelter ideas and water sources.
Registrations received from June 1, 2020 through December 1, 2020 will count towards the 2020 Plant for Pollinators Village Challenge. Each registration earns a point for your Village Association. Program sponsors, The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. and Project PolliNation, will contribute scholarship money to the three Village Associations with the most points. When you register your garden, you will receive a Plant for Pollinators window cling in appreciation. Find the garden registration form at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/plantforpollinators.
Check out these past articles to learn more about local pollinators:
If you weren’t able to join us for a Pollinator Garden Class
at Woodlands Landscaping Solutions last month, don’t worry! Lauren Simpson,
area pollinator gardening expert, is coming back this month and is offering a
deep dive into how she transformed her own yard into a beautiful space for
pollinators.
Lauren is passionate about educating on pollinators, their
conservation and the urban wildscapes that support them. Her own pollinator
garden is a Certified Wildlife Habitat, a Monarch Waystation, and a Certified
Butterfly Garden. Lauren has observed 48 species of butterfly, 20 species of
syrphid fly and around 30 species each of bees and wasps within her home
garden.
Through the success of her garden, Lauren helped create the St. Julian’s Crossing – wildlife habitat, and has received much recognition around the Houston area for her efforts in pollinator conservation. For more information and to see Lauren’s home garden, check out the St. Julian’s Crossing Facebook page.
Register online here. Registration is required. For a complete list of upcoming Environmental Services programs, check out our calendar of events here.
