Heather Holm’s blog Restoring the Landscape with Native Plants is a valuable resource for any gardener. A landscaper herself, with extensive
experience using natives on her own property, Heather combines this knowledge
with excellent photography skills to showcase native plants and their
associated insects. When considering what plants to put in my own yard, I have often
consulted her blog. Equally, when wondering what type of bees are likely to
visit various plants, I’ll check to see what information she offers. She has
graciously let me use her photos to illustrate some of my own posts.
Now Holm has compiled a great deal of essential
information in her new book, Pollinators of Native Plants: Attract, Observe and
Identify Pollinators and Beneficial Insects with Native Plants (Pollination Press, 2014). This easy to
use reference will prove useful to anyone interested in native plants and who
wants to have the kind of garden that attracts bees, butterflies and other
helpful insects. The opening sections explain the role and life cycles of
pollinators and how pollination works. The bulk of the book treats over sixty
flowering plants, with sections devoted to prairie, woodland edge, and wetland
edge plants.
Native plants have particular needs regarding soil, moisture and
sun, but if the right plant is planted in the right place, they will do well
with little extra care. The book reflects this, and is organized so that each
entry includes a description of the plant, its growing requirements and natural
range (mostly the eastern half of North America); you can see at a glance if a
plant you are considering is right for your yard. Each entry also includes a useful
discussion of the pollinating insects that are associated with the plant. The
detailed photographs have caught pollinators in action, which makes it easier
to identify them when outside. Also
included are handy charts, a glossary, and sample planting plans for a variety
of situations.
Pollinators of Native Plants fills a niche, whether used for
planning a native plant garden or for guidance regarding what you are likely to
see when in natural areas. There are plenty of excellent wildflower and insect guides,
but few combine the two so conveniently as this does. A whole
range of people will find Holm's book useful, from gardeners, organic farmers,
and permaculturalists, to garden and landscape designers, as well as those
restoring and managing natural areas. I could even see a role for it in the
classroom. Beginners will find the book valuable because it is an entree to the
kind of broad knowledge that takes years to develop, while experienced practitioners
will find worthwhile information as well. Pollinators is a great companion
to Attracting Native Pollinators (reviewed here), the Xerces Society’s
compendium on the subject that was an inspiration for Holm.
The best way anyone can help native and honey bees is to provide good, pesticide free habitat with loads of native flowers. This book is a helpful resource in that endeavor.
Related Posts:
Attracting Native Pollinators
Urban Neighborhoods Can Be Good for Native Bees
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