Pollinators

How many of you as a child used to drink the tiny drops of nectar from honeysuckle flowers?  How many still do? [Raises hand…]

Bats often get a rep for being scary creatures of the night. But bats are actually super beneficial to your garden! Not to mention they play an important role in the ecosystem and are considered pollinators. Here's how and why you should build a bat house and welcome bats into your garden. 

Scarlet sage is a member of the family Lamiaceae or Mint family of the genus Salvia L. or sage P containing the species Salvia splendens Sellow ex Roem. & Schult. or scarlet sage. The plant is native to Brazil and is considered a warm weather annual in cooler climates but is classified as a perennial.

New to gardening? Want to make yours more sustainable? Whatever the case, here are four tips I advise for creating a sustainable garden you can be proud of.  

Farmers have been saving their own seeds for ages. There are many reasons you should save your own seeds too. For starters, it can save you money, but there are many more reasons than this. Here's why you should start saving your seeds, and how to do it. 

Bats—the world’s only flying mammals—are, indeed, amazing flyers and give birds a run for their money.  In Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, bats are also important native pollinators.  Those majestic Saguaro and Organ Pipe cacti you see in southern Arizona and Northern Mexico….they’re pollinated by bats.  As is agave

If you’d like to see more birds fluttering nearby your home or want to help the local ecosystem stay in or return to a vibrant, natural state, consider planting a bird-friendly yard or container garden.

Are you looking to attract hummingbirds to your yard or garden?  It’s a good idea! Not only are they fun to watch, but they’re also pollinators: as they stick their long skinny beaks into flower after flower, they’re doing the same work as bees, butterflies, and other insects that pollinate plants (and we know how important pollination is).  Make a conscious effort to invite these tiny birds into your space by planting some of their favorite flowers and plants.

1. Echinacea

Did you know the flowers and vegetation you're growing might be invasive species? Native plants often get overlooked when people design their gardens and lawns, instead opting for popular plants from other regions. This is unfortunate, considering native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions which means they require far less water.

Growing herbs is often the gateway to becoming a gardener and eventually starting a vegetable garden.