Bright, blooming and buzzing with life, recent rains refreshed landscapes creating a buffet of options for pollinators.
Bees buzzing with purpose, butterflies fluttering and moths and June bugs are bounding around all the moonlit gardens. From native cactus bees to hummingbirds sipping from revitalized WaterSaver plants, rain can spark a joyful revival across the land.
While recent rains won’t end the drought, with the ground refreshed and blooms bouncing back a bit, pollinators should have a spread of buffet options just in time for Pollinator Week. And you can join the celebration — and enjoy the magic — with free entry to Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, Saturday June 21!
Learn more about landscaping for pollinators and how every bug counts — even aphids! (That’s what cute little ladybugs eat.)
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Ground-dwelling bees: the underground pollinators
Too cool to bee-hive — 70% of native bees nest in the ground. These bees dig tiny tunnels in bare, well-drained soil. They’re gentle, rarely sting and are super-pollinators for native wildflowers, fruits and veggies. The endangered bumblebee is so super cute because they pack little lunches for their babies to be set to thrive. Weird fact: Some species only live 2-3 weeks, and in that time they can visit thousands of blooms!
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June bugs: Night owls with a purpose
While they might clumsily bump into porch lights, June bugs are nighttime pollinators and an important food source for birds, bats and armadillos. Their chubby, shiny selves may seem awkward, but they help maintain ecological balance.
You can “bee” a friend to pollinators by:
- ✅Leaving some patches of bare ground (no mulch!) to give these bees a home.
- ✅Not using weed barriers.
- ✅Avoiding pesticides.
- ✅Leaving the leaves and wild corners for overwintering bugs.
- ✅Putting out very shallow plates of water.
This June, pause and prep — and thank the bugs! That little bee digging in your garden? She might be the reason your tomatoes thrive. And that June bug bumping into your screen door? He’s part of the night shift crew keeping ecosystems in check.
