Early spring is a great time to think about the land that surrounds your house. Fortunately, you have plenty of choices. One of them could be to make your yard an extension or part of the Nature Preserve. Everybody likes pollinators, but pollinators need native plants and trees. Bees are the main pollinators for fruits and vegetables. They nest underground in twigs and debris or in dead trees. Nectar seeking butterflies are daytime garden visitors, and moths are their nocturnal counterpart. These popular creatures pollinate many plants.
Hummingbirds are the most common avian pollinators in the continental United States. These tiny wonders prefer tubular flowers in bright, warm colors. There are many thousands of beetle species, in fact, 40 percent of all insects are beetles. Flies and other insects are common flower visitors and pollinators. Pollinators face many challenges in the modern world. Habitat loss, disease, parasites and environmental contaminants have all contributed to their decline.
Florida is home to a spectacular array of wildflowers. It is a suitable place for many temperate and subtropical species. You can invite many pollinators to your yard by gardening with native plants. A great variety of Florida native plants are excellent for landscaping. They can be planted in small containers or over several acres. Native plants conserve water by requiring less irrigation once established. They are adapted to this southeast coastal soil type and climate and are more disease resistant. They provide food and shelter for butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. Before you get started be sure and read about native plants and native plant nurseries.
Seek the advice of a master gardener in native plants. You will enjoy the benefits and so will the Nature Preserve.