It is spring in the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat. Get outside and see what is growing and what did not make it over the winter. Now is a good time to think about what plants you could add to your pollinator habitat. The Nebraska Pollinator Habitat Certification program has an excellent list of spring, summer and fall blooming plants that are native to Nebraska. Look over the impressive plant list and also consider certifying your pollinator habitat. Learn more at this link: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/douglas-sarpy/nebraska-pollinator-habitat-certification/
Trees provide many well know benefits to the landscape. The importance of flowering trees as a source of pollen and nectar for pollinators is sometimes overlooked. Spring is a great time to plant trees, here are a few to consider adding to your pollinator habitat.
Red maple-Acer rubrum: Pollinators: bees, butterflies, wasps and flies. Early April blooming with scarlet red flowers and red fall foliage.
Wild plum-Prunus americana: Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths, wasps and flies. Early April blooming with white flowers. Small trees have fruit for wildlife.
Eastern redbud-Cercis canadensis: Pollinators: bees, butterflies, wasps and flies. Late April blooming with small purple flowers. Small tree in the legume family, 20-30 feet tall.
Peachleaf willow-Salix amygdaloides: Pollinators: bees, butterflies, wasps and flies. Late April blooming with pollen loaded white flowers.
Northern catalpa-Catalpa speciosa: Pollinators: bees and moths. Blooms, late May – early June. Flowers are orchid-like and fragrant. Large heart-shaped foliage that turn yellow-brown in fall.
Tulip tree-Liriodendron tulipifera: Pollinators: bees, beetles and flies. Bloom time May-June. Gorgeous flowers are large, greenish yellow cups with a basal orange band. Native to the US, Larval host to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus).
Other trees:
American linden-Tilia americana: Pollinators: bees, moths, wasps, beetles and flies. Summer yellow-white flowers. Fragrant flowers. Fall yellow foliage. Native tree that reaches heights of 60-80 feet.
Littleleaf linden-Tilia cordata: Pollinators: bees, moths, wasps, beetles and flies. Summer yellow-white flowers. Fragrant blooms. Fall yellow-green foliage. Great street and residential tree.
Shadblow serviceberry-Amelanchier laevis: Pollinators: bees and flies. White flowers emerge in early spring. Purple-black fruit. Green summer foliage turns copper-orange in fall.
Crabapple-Malus spp.: Pollinators: bees and flies. May blooming flowers, with long bloom time, are white, pink and red.
Black cherry-Prunus serotine: Pollinators: bees and flies. White, May blooming flowers. Native tree, 60-80 feet tall.
Spring blooming plants are very important to early pollinators. It can be hard to find and add these plants to a Nebraska pollinator habitat. Spring flowering bulbs can help fill this early season void. Plant bulbs this fall and next year you will have early spring flowers for bees and other pollinators.
The early spring period after the temperatures have started to warm but before dandelions have started blooming is a critical time for bees. Here are spring bulbs to consider adding to your pollinator habitat.
Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.) are white, nodding flowers that will multiple with time. They are the first to bloom, some as early as late January. On a sunny day, with temperatures above 40 degrees F, you can find honeybees visiting snowdrops. Plant in a sunny, south facing location for early blooms.
Crocus (Crocus spp.) are the next to bloom and bees love them. Plant crocuses in drifts to provide loads of pollen and nectar. They generally prefer a sunny spot and are great naturalized in lawns.
Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa spp.) is a wonderful sun-loving bulb. Floriferous and very hardy, Chionodoxas have pink, blue and white flowers. They grow to eight inches.
Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) is a beautiful bulb for sunny areas, with deep blue flowers and reaches 6 inches high. This exceptionally hardy plant multiples and creates an impressive naturalized area.
Striped squill, (Puschkinia scilloides) has flowers that are white with blue stripes. In April of this year, a red admiral butterfly visit my small patch of flowers.
Species tulips (Tulipa spp.) are great for pollinators. Plus bulbs come back year after year. Plant in a sunny, very well-drained place.
Grape hyacinth (Muscari spp.) are scented and a favorite bulb for many gardeners. The purple and white flowers are also a favorite for bees. Plant bulbs in a sunny area.
Checkered lily (Fritillaria meleagris.), also called Snake’s head fritillary, have unusual checkerboard patterns on their purple blooms. Plant bulbs in a part-shade areas that benefits from reliable moisture.
Many hybridized bulbs do not benefit pollinators, but heirloom or species varieties will be appreciated. Plant bulb up until the ground freezes in late November. Then look for amazing blooms and visiting pollinators next spring.
The Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat has received much needed rain. It is raining right now! Plants have grown well and the habitat has greened up. Common milkweed, Joe-Pye weed, hoary vervain, bee balm, tall thistle, common yarrow, aster, penstemon, purple coneflower, goldenrod and cup plant are found in the in the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat. Master Gardener volunteers helped cut back dead plants, weed trees and spread mulch earlier this month. I added new blocks to the solitary bee house. We should be seeing leaf cutter bees soon. Spring is here.
MJ Frogge
Blocks with drilled holes and paper straws for solitary bees.Common milkweed.Joe-Pye weed.
Many great pollinator plants are blooming now. It can be hard to find a good collection of spring blooming plants to add to your pollinator habitat. Here are a few to try.
Trees: Eastern redbud, cherry, apple, crab apple, wild plum, pear, willow, maple and Shadblow serviceberry.
Perennials: pasque flower, Dutchman’s breeches, white trout lily, Virginia bluebells and spring beauty.
Spring blooming flower bulbs: snowdrops, Siberian squill, grape hyacinth, crocus, striped squill and glory-of-the-snow.
Mid-March is the perfect time to start seeds for plants to place in your pollinator habitat. Growing your own transplants is a great way to add annuals, perennials and herbs to your landscape for pollinators. Consider starting herbs like basil, parsley and borage. Annual salvia, tithonia, sweet alyssum, cosmos, zinnia and calendula are great annual flowers for bees and butterflies. Perennials like Black-eyed Susan, milkweed and mint can be started inside as well.
Spindly growth is a common problem when growing transplants indoors. It is best to place the seedlings under artificial light. It is not necessary to have a grow light plant stand. A standard shop light fixture with one cool and one warm fluorescent tube light works fine. Or you can purchase an inexpensive ready to go, out of the box, shop light with LED lights. For best results, the lights should be approximately 1 inch above the seedlings. Raise the light as the seedlings grow. Leave the lights on 12 to 16 hours a day.
Earth Day was yesterday and Arbor Day is celebrated next week. It was great to be out in the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat to see what is blooming. Spring blooming trees are important to the early pollinators. We have three early blooming trees in the habitat. Eastern redbud-Cercis canadensis, wild plum-Prunus americana and peachleaf willow-Salix amygdaloides are all blooming now. All these trees are native to the United States and benefit early pollinators. Hope you can add a spring blooming tree to your landscape this year.
This week we celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day. We are having fantastic weather, so hope you are able to get outside and plant.
Eastern redbud tree.
Wild plum
Dandelion, see the tiny bee?
Many great pollinator plants are blooming now. They include pasque flower, redbud, Dutchman’s breeches, white trout lily, Virginia bluebells, spring beauty, wild plum and dandelions. Yes, dandelions are a great early blooming plant for pollinators. I found tiny native bees visiting the plants. Let a few plants remain and bloom in your habitat. Remove the dead flowers before they go to seed.
Spring is here and we are enjoying the roller coaster of temperatures. Warm & sunny one day, cloudy & cold the next. That is spring in Nebraska. Due to COVID-19 we have a new normal to our life. Nebraska Extension staff are working remotely and the office is closed. I am disappointed I can not be in the Cherry Creek Pollinator Habitat, it is a special place. I like to watch the plants emerge and the start of bee activity. We can watch the Live Habitat Web Cam, so that does help me keep an eye on what is going on. You can watch too by clicking the link above.
I hope everyone is spending time in their home pollinator habitat. I have been. It is nice to spend lunch time outside seeing what is blooming and plotting my next project. Now is a good time to make a list of spring blooming plants you need to add to your habitat. Consider spring blooming bulbs like scilla, crocus, snowdrops, striped squill and glory-of-the-snow. Spring blooming trees include redbud, plums and cherries. Perennials that bloom in the spring are Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauty and pasqueflower.
Today I started flower and herb seeds under grow lights. Growing your own transplants is a great way to add annuals, perennials and herbs to your landscape for pollinators. I started basil, parsley, borage, salvia, tithonia and calendula.
Spindly growth is a common problem when growing transplants indoors. It is best to place the seedlings under artificial light. It is not necessary to have a grow light plant stand. A standard shop light fixture with one cool and one warm fluorescent tube light works fine. Or you can purchase an inexpensive ready to go, out of the box, shop light with LED lights.  For best results, the lights should be approximately 1 inch above the seedlings. Raise the light as the seedlings grow. Leave the lights on 12 to 16 hours a day.
Many flowers do well or better as direct planting outside. Plant zinnia and sunflower seeds after the chance for frost has past and the ground temperature is consistently warm, over 55 degrees F. This usually occurs in mid to late May.
Today I started flower and herb seeds under grow lights. Growing your own transplants is a great way to add annuals, perennials and herbs to your landscape for pollinators. I started basil, parsley, borage, salvia, tithonia and calendula.
The Buzz at Cherry Creek 