Category: Pollinator Gardens
The Old-Fashioned Lungwort
Today’s Feature Flower is the old-fashioned lungwort (Pulmonaria). This early spring perennial is the first to bloom in our gardens. Lungworts are loaded with tiny, bell-shaped flowers, surrounded by mounds of hairy green leaves, spotted with white. These delicate beauties are perfect for mass…
The Whimsical Cosmos
This week’s Feature Flower is the whimsical cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus). This annual is loved by not only our honey bees, but our native bees, hummingbirds, moths and butterflies. Due to its ease to grow from seed and ability to thrive in poor soil, this…
Glory of the Snow
As a beekeeper, I feel it is my duty to provide healthy forage for my bees. I’ve had a passion for flowers and bees for as long as I can remember. I love that my two favorite things complement one another so beautifully. This…
Cutleaf Coneflower: A Gift for the Pollinators
This towering beauty is loved by not only our honey bees, due to its rich nectar and pollen, but our native pollinators as well. Commonly called the cutleaf coneflower “autumn sun” (Rudbeckia laciniata), this stunning perennial is visited by both long and short-tongued bees,…
Blue Beauties
As a beekeeper, I feel it is my duty to provide healthy forage for my bees. I’ve had a passion for flowers and bees for as long as I can remember. I love that my two favorite things complement one another so beautifully… This…
Sunflowers for the Bees
We all need a little sunshine right about now, so this week’s Feature Flower is…the Sunflower!Sunflowers are outstanding choices for honey bees and local pollinators. They are effortless to grow from seed and make a stunning late summer-fall feature in any garden. Although I…
For the Love of Chives!
Chives are an outstanding choice for your local pollinators. They are effortless to grow from seed and make a beautiful border plant. Considering I have two favorites, I thought I would share both: Common Chives (Allium schoeonoprasum) and Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum). Common Chives…
Hyssop: A Must for Your Garden
Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is one of my favorite perennial herbs to grow from seed. These plants are loaded with purple, nectar-rich flowers, beginning mid-summer. Hyssop makes a beautiful feature in any garden and is stunning when mass planted. The hyssop plants in our gardens…
Beekeeper Roda’s Story
My name is Roda. I am the owner of Indigo Acres Apiary in Rockford, Michigan. I was born a nature girl. I spent my childhood exploring the woods, catching critters, and gardening with my dad. Even then, I was easily distracted by bees, butterflies,…
The Beauty of Borage
Planting a pollinator garden is a wonderful gift for the bees. Considering they pollinate 1/3 of the food we eat, planting bee friendly flowers is the least we can do to give back. If you are wondering where to start and what to plant,…