Pollinator Gardens

Pollinators help move pollen from one part of a flower to another using wind and water to distribute pollen as fertilizer for plants. Fertilization of plants helps to make seeds, grow fruits, and produce new plants. But many plants need help from insects and animals like bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and even some small mammals. These pollinators visit flowers to find food, shelter, and nest-building materials. Some pollinators, like bees, collect pollen on purpose. Others, like butterflies or birds, carry pollen accidentally as they move. As they drink nectar or land on flowers, pollen sticks to their bodies and gets carried to the next flower they visit. This is how pollination happens!