Celebrating Pollinator Month: Small Changes, Big Impact

June is Pollinator Month, a time to celebrate the bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, and other pollinators that help our gardens—and our food supply—thrive.

Pollinators play an essential role in healthy ecosystems. In fact, many of the fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants we enjoy depend on pollinators to reproduce. Unfortunately, habitat loss and pesticide use have contributed to declining pollinator populations across the country. The good news is that you can make a meaningful difference right in your own backyard, or even your patio!

One of the best ways to support pollinators is by planting native plants. Native plants have evolved alongside local pollinators and provide the nectar, pollen, and habitat they need to survive. As an added benefit, native gardens typically require less water, less fertilizer, and little to no pesticide use once established.

The Xerces Society, a leading nonprofit focused on pollinator conservation, recommends many California native plants that perform beautifully in Southern California gardens. A few of my favorites include:

🌼 California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) – One of the most valuable native plants for pollinators, providing food for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout the summer.

💜 California Lilac (Ceanothus) – A stunning, evergreen shrub, with stunning blue flowers in the spring, this showpiece plant attracts native bees while creating safe cover from predators for small birds.

🦋 Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) – An important host plant for monarch butterflies and a valuable nectar source for many pollinators. Monarch Caterpillars will eat the plant to the ground, but don’t worry, it will come back next year, and so will the Monarchs!

🌿 Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) – A fragrant California native loved by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plant this somewhere just off a path, so you can smell the leaves and periwinkle flowers when you walk past.

When designing a pollinator-friendly garden, I encourage homeowners to think beyond individual plants. By creating layers of flowering plants, shrubs, and habitat features—and by reducing or eliminating pesticide use—we can create beautiful landscapes that support wildlife while conserving water.

This Pollinator Month, consider adding a few native plants to your garden. Even a small planting in a pot can help provide food and shelter for the pollinators that play such an important role in our environment.

May your garden bring beauty and joy—for both you and the pollinators that visit it.