Fledgling Gardener Plants to Attract Native Bees

My last post concluded with contemplating what to plant in the front garden to support wildlife. Much thought was required because this was my first attempt at gardening without a lawn.

One goal was to improve on the existing habitat of soil, sheltering juniper and bee-friendly hydrangea. Nearly all new plants would have to be easy to install and require little maintenance, little water and minimal expense.  

Near the juniper hedge, I planted an olive tree. With a blue bench placed beneath the tree, the front garden had an anchor. You can see them in the photos, along with stepping stones added that match the front porch created the year before.

Cal’s Gordon Frankie inspired me to focus my garden on bees. He teaches that California native bees are far more effective pollinators than the better-known honey bee. Our natives cannot be transported like the honey bee. They are solitary creatures who nest in soil. We can sustain and attract them by avoiding soil-smothering mulch and planting what they love.

El Cerrito's tree program got me started. It provided two free bee-loving Malus Robinson trees that the City’s arborist planted in the parkway. These trees also are ideal for perching birds to have a nibble or two of tasty fruit. Peek at the second photo to see an early spring umbrella of Malus' deep pink flowers.  

Annie's Annuals and Berkeley Horticultural Nursery offered the bee-friendly plants that you can see in the photos. I made my selections from easy-to-install plants in 4-inch pots. 

Grey-green English and French lavenders are visible in the background on the left of the first photo.  Coreopsis lines the far side of the stepping stones. Its perpetual yellow flowers—two visible in the second photo—are beloved by bees and butterflies; its dried seed heads offer food to birds.

Several yarrow plants show along the near side of the stepping stones. Fragrant thyme and chamomile patches couch the stone near the porch and cluster aside stones by the olive tree.

The young plants grew, and it became apparent that I’d put them too close to the stepping stones, as the second photo makes clear. Alas, this was but one of the design mistakes I made.

Nevertheless, I knew the plants would flourish under winter rains that promised to nurture their steady growth over the coming months. While waiting, I wondered what winged visitors to expect the following year.