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Why Pollinators Matter
Pollinators are essential to healthy ecosystems and food systems. They support plant diversity, wildlife, and the natural systems that keep our landscapes healthy and resilient. Plus, nearly three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of global food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce.
By choosing pollinator-friendly plants, you create a habitat that provides food and shelter for pollinators, including bees, butterflies, beetles, and birds. In urban areas like Oak Park, pollinator-friendly gardens also create important habitat “stepping stones,” helping pollinators move through developed neighborhoods.
Beyond their ecological value, pollinator-friendly plants also bring color, movement, and life to your landscape. Enjoy observing nature at work up close while supporting a healthier environment!
How To Get Started
You do not need a large pollinator garden to make a meaningful impact. Even a few carefully selected plants in a garden bed or container can help support local pollinators.
Incorporate a variety of flowering plants that bloom from early spring through fall. Native grasses are excellent host plants for insect larvae and a balance to the flowering plants. Perennials are a great option because they return year after year and provide reliable habitat over time.
Native plants are a great place to start because they have evolved alongside local pollinators and provide useful food and habitat resources. However, even native plants will struggle if they are not matched with the right growing conditions. Consider sun exposure, soil moisture, and plant size before planting.
To increase habitat value, think beyond flowers. Adding shrubs, small trees, and vines creates vertical layers that add visual interest, add biodiversity, and provide even more habitat options.
Planning for Your Pollinator Garden
Feeling overwhelmed by the options? Shopping local can help set your garden up for success. The Oak Park Conservatory’s annual Perennial Pollinator Plant Sale each May is a great place to start, with a wide selection of native plants, native cultivars, and heirloom perennials selected to support pollinators and increase biodiversity. Knowledgeable horticulturalists are available to help you select plants best suited to your yard.
A pollinator garden is a long-term investment in your landscape and local ecology, and even your property value. Start small, choose plants thoughtfully, and build over time. Well-chosen plants will create meaningful habitat and help connect your yard to the larger Illinois landscape.
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