Pollinators

Garden Clippings for August 30, 2025

The bees are buzzing, the butterflies are fluttering, and the hummingbirds are humming. Our backyard is certainly the busiest in the city…well, almost.

When we moved into our home 5 years ago, the next-door neighbours were happy. Not because we seemed like decent folks, although I think we are. Not because we didn’t have late night noisy parties. We don’t.

We dug a water garden.

When I designed and planned the water garden, it needed to be two-tiered. Water had to flow from the top granite boulders and spill into a pebble-covered basin. From there it needed to flow over another rock ledge, creating a mini-waterfall. The shallow lower level, housing the hidden pump, mimics a natural creek bed.

The next-door neighbours weren’t fussy about the design of the water garden. Their only concern was that it needed to satisfy the birds.

The water garden does indeed attract birds. In fact, it would be a rare moment for there not to be at least a few birds enjoying the sound and splash in our backyard.

Turns out that between the three of us neighbours, our backyards are a dream-come-true for bees, wasps, moths, beetles, butterflies and small mammals. The neighbour to the west has fruit trees, grapevines, wildflowers, conifers and deciduous trees.

Our place has a water garden, lots of perennials, many colourful containers, and a somewhat neglected meadow in the back forty. The neighbour to the east has a sizable vegetable garden, several shade and fruit trees, and a half dozen chickens.

Key to a wildlife friendly or pollinator garden is variety. And while size matters, a pollinator garden need not be big. Even a few pots on the balcony can become a haven for beneficial insects.

A wildlife friendly garden will offer a variety of flowers, blooming in sequence from Spring to fall. In our backyard we have a mix of native and non-native, a mix of annuals and perennials, and a mix of colours. I plan for colour from early spring to late fall, with the biggest show of colour in mid-summer.

To maximize impact, I like planting flowers in groups or clusters. Planting in groups suits the pollinators just fine, allowing them to collect pollen efficiently.

Between the three of us, our backyards offer something for everyone. There is plenty of sunshine for flowers and vegetables to flourish. Maples, fruit trees, and Walnuts cast shade to give relief of summer heat. Conifers, primarily Cedars, Spruce and Pine, give wind protection and places for birds and insects to find shelter. Flowering shrubs such as Hydrangeas, Lilacs and Juneberries provide mid-level flower and fruit.