Bees are the most effective pollinators on earth, and we can thank them for a successful ecosystem. As they move from flower to flower collecting food, bees leave pollen behind, which kickstarts the plant’s fertilization process. An abundance of bees is an important factor to having a flourishing ecosystem. The bees need enough food sources for this to happen. This spring and summer, consider planting native flowers in your yard, garden, or local area. Bees are attracted to most flowers while searching for food, but according to research at the University of Maine, bees are drawn to some plants in particular. 

Butterfly Milkweed, for example, is favored by bumblebees. As a perennial plant, Butterfly Milkweed will grow back every year once you plant it. It has bright orange flowers that will pop in any garden and is sure to attract pollinators. There is still time to plant this because it sprouts in early June and lasts through August and September. 

Another attractive plant is New England Aster. Many varieties of bees favor it, such as bumblebees, honey bees, and sweat bees. It is a perennial plant with delicate purple flowers. New England Aster flowers in the fall and can survive in most garden conditions. 

Bees also enjoy the flowering shrub Summersweet. Summersweet grows from August through September and is a sturdy and beautiful flower. It attracts many bees and is liked by most species. 

There are many more things you can plant in order to help bees this summer and fall, but when choosing what to plant, make sure the species is native to Maine. This will keep the ecosystem stable and ensure it is not disrupted by invasive plants. 

More resources and recommendations:

https://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/pesticides/yardscaping/documents/

https://wildseedproject.net/category/plant-profiles/ 

https://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/pesticides/yardscaping/plants/n_flowers.htm