The dry weather we’ve been experiencing recently is a reminder that pollinators need water, too! A fully-stocked pollinator habitat must include water sources for butterflies and bees. If you don’t have a natural water source (stream, pond, spring) nearby, you can quickly and easily create something that will fulfill pollinators’ needs.
Birdbaths, fountains and water gardens are all good choices to consider for your garden. But if you’re on a budget, don’t worry! A shallow pan filled with pebbles provides a place for butterflies to perch as they drink. A ‘puddling area’ (a low moist spot in the soil) supplies the mud that many bees need for nesting, as well as a place for butterflies to soak up important minerals through their feet. And if you’d like to upcycle some of the contents of your recycling bin, the shallow depressions in ‘planted’ wine bottles are just the right depth for bees.
So as you relax and enjoy a glass of your favorite beverage in your garden this weekend–don’t forget to serve your pollinator friends, too!