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All those bulbs you planted last Fall should be starting to pop up. In March and April, we will still have some colder weather but the anticipation of Spring is here. As temperatures warm up pollinators will emerge from hibernation needing food sources. Some of the earliest flowers to bloom are bulbs helping to provide the necessary nectar for hungry bees and pollinators.
Bees are looking for two things when they forage in your garden. The nectar and pollen found in blooming plants provides them with carbohydrates and protein they need to thrive and produce their offspring.
Think about “staging” the menu of blooms in your garden from early spring through fall by planting a wide range of flowering plants. Plants that bloom very early or late in the season are often the most important food sources for pollinators as there are not many other resources available during this time.
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Look around your neighborhood and see what is blooming early. Learn what spring bulbs grow in your area, and when to plant them in your pollinator garden. Some to consider planting this Fall for your Spring garden: a mix of crocus, snow drops, Siberian squill (Puschkinia), grape hyacinth and blue bells will ensure many sources of nectar when little else is in bloom.
Planting in clumps will attract more pollinators than individual flowers dispersed throughout your garden. A diversity of shapes and sizes will accommodate a variety of bees and pollinating insects.
More information: Springbulbs, CSUFactSheet
