Milkweeds Are Not Just For Monarchs
By: Alyssum Flowers Although milkweed has often been considered a weed, and to farmers, an annoying nuisance, it has recently enjoyed new respect and…
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Honey Bees vs. Native Bees
By: Alyssum Flowers Instead of writing about a pollinator plant, I want to address the weary accusation that somehow honey bees outcompete native bees…
Read MoreBeware of Ticks in the Apiary
By: Alyssum Flowers “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Benjamin Franklin, almost 300 years ago. His sage advice is…
Read MoreTradescantia – A Pollinators’ Feast for Shade
By: Alyssum Flowers It is relatively easy to find blooming plants for sunny areas, but growing shade plants that provide food for pollinators can…
Read MorePlant Yarrow Tomorrow
Alyssum Flowers An interesting plant to add texture and detail to any garden is Yarrow, Achillea species, also known as Devil’s Nettle, Dog Daisy,…
Read MoreLilacs – A Favored Fragrance for People and Pollinators
Alyssum Flowers Few flowering shrubs are more reminiscent of Spring than lilacs, with the varying shades of blues, violets, pinks, yellows and creams and…
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Stuck on Trees
Alyssum Flowers While some of us are inside with cold or freezing temperatures outside, honey bee colonies are very busy trying to keep the…
Read MoreSpring Flowering Bulbs are Not Just for Squirrels
Alyssum Flowers Now is the time to plan and plant Spring flowering bulbs for color next year. Many species, colors and varieties are available…
Read MoreGetting to the Root of Bee Culture
Alyssum Flowers In Spring of 2020, Brad Root, the 5th generation Owner and President of A. I. Root Company, decided to plant pollinator friendly…
Read MoreGoing Places with Balloon Flower
Alyssum Flowers A true blue champion in the garden is balloon flower or Chinese bellflower, Platycodon grandiflorus, a two foot tall clump forming perennial…
Read MoreSalivating Over Salvia
Alyssum Flowers Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family (the mints, Family Laminaceae) with over 1000 species of annuals, perennials…
Read MorePlanning Your Pollinator Garden
Alyssum Flowers The best way to learn about pollinators and help them thrive is to have established plantings of flowering plants whether it’s annuals…
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