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Attract bees and butterflies in a home pollinator garden

It doesn’t take a lot of room to build a simple patio pollinator garden.
 
A bee collects pollen from pentas. [Times (2013)]
A bee collects pollen from pentas. [Times (2013)]
Published May 8, 2020|Updated May 8, 2020

Bees, butterflies and beetles might be small, but they ultimately keep our planet alive. They carry pollen, which aids in the production of the food we eat and the air we breathe.

The popularity of high-rise buildings in our current concrete jungles has caused habitat loss for pollinators. Simple patio pollinator gardens may be the answer to the survival of our little pollinating friends.

“More than 75 percent of the world’s crops rely on pollinators,” said Mark Penning, vice president of Animals, Science and Environment for Disney and Walt Disney Resort, which would have been exhibiting the gardens at Epcot’s annual International Flower and Garden Festival right now. “Unfortunately, pollinators are experiencing a global decline due to habitat loss.”

A male Miami blue butterfly has an iridescent blue wing color, as seen here. [ Courtesy of Jared Daniels, Florida Museum of Natural History ]

One of the pollinator garden caregivers from Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team is Disney conservation manager Zak Gezon, who offers advice on creating simple pollinator-friendly gardens at home.

In a 50-second Disney Magic Moments video, Gezon gives tips on turning a small patio into a flowery mecca for pollinators. You can find it at disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog.

“We can have a big impact over wildlife in our own backyards,” he said. “I don’t really have a backyard, I just have a patio. But, I can still plant a pollinator garden.”

A list of readily available items he suggests includes native seed mixtures, flower pots and potting soil.

Planting seeds in small pots is an easy and economical way to create new plants, but not the only one.

“Look for a diversity of plants. You want lots of diversity in color, shape and size, tall stuff and small stuff,” he said.

He emphasized how plant diversity is a key to drawing multiple types of pollinators.

“Diversity begets diversity. The more different types of plants that you plant, the more butterflies and insects will be showing up,” he said.

A dung beetle dances atop its ball, which might become its dinner.

The more people that plant these simple pollinator gardens, the better off our environment will be. He recommends posting about it on social media to encourage others to do the same.

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“If you do this, and your friends do it, post about it on social media. Next thing you know, everybody’s done it and you’ve made a ton of habitat," he said. "Without even going too far outside, you’ve had an impact on wildlife in your own backyard.

Reader’s Digest also recommended simple techniques for tiny patio pollinator gardens: vertical gardening with strings and trellises, stack planters, railing planters, vertical wall planters and hanging baskets.

The Trigg wall vessel, designed by Moe Takemura for Umbra, is functional art that could serve as an herb planter on a balcony or terrace.

Some plants to consider include: salvia, lavender, bush lantana, purple verbena, sunflowers, coneflowers and catmint.

If you have questions about patio pollinator gardens, you can contact local experts at UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County at (727) 582-2100.