Fall is the best time of year to plant. Warm days, cool nights, and an upcoming winter of rain (we hope!) help ensure good plant establishment. When planning your bee garden, remember the following:
- Vary flower shape, size, and color
- Plant for year-round bloom
- Include a variety of plant families
- Plant in drifts
- Native plants for native bees
- Provide a water source
- Leave some bare, unmulched soil
- Add nesting blocks
For inspiration and information about planning a habitat garden, I recommend the following:
Natural Gardening in Small Spaces by Noel Kingsbury
Planting, a New Perspective by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury
California Native Plants for the Garden by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien
Insects and Gardens by Eric Grissell
California Bees and Blooms by Gordon W. Frankie, Robbin W. Thorp, Rollin E. Coville, and Barbara Ertter. Available October 2014.
Where do we get our plants?
California Flora Nursery, Fulton. Large, diverse selection of CA natives and select non-natives.
Green Acres, Sacramento. Large, diverse selection of common plants for our area, including some natives.
Ace Hardware, Davis. Good selection of common plants for our area, including some natives.
Friedmans Home Improvement, Petaluma, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa. Good selection of common plants for our area, including some natives.
Other local sources include Three Palms Nursery in Davis, Big Oak Nursery in Elk Grove, and Boxwood Nursery in Woodland, as well as the UC Davis Arboretum plant sales.
Get digging!
