Resource List for Bees, Bumblebees and Blooms
In 2020, Pollinator Week is June 17-23
Sources for Organic Wildflower Plants and Seeds in New England:
Found Well Farm, Pembroke, NH www.foundwellfarm.com
American Meadows, Williston, VT www.americanmeadows.com/wildflower-seeds/attracting- pollinators
High Mowing Organic Seeds, Wolcott, VT www.highmowingseeds.com/organic-non-gmo-flower-seeds.html
Vermont Wildflower Farm, Charlotte, VT www.vermontwildflowerfarm.com/attract-honey-bees.html
www.vermontwildflowerfarm.com/butterfly-garden.html
Articles on Pollinators and Pesticides:
CATCH THE BUZZ - Native bees foraging in fields are exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides and other pesticides, Bee Culture, December 5, 2015. http://www.beeculture.com/catch-the-buzz-native-bees-foraging-in-fields-are-exposed-to-neonicotinoid-insecticides-and-other-pesticides/Goulsen, D., Nicholls, E., Botias, C., and Rotheray, E.L. Bee declines driven by combined stress from parasites, pesticides, and lack of flowers, Published Online February 26 2015, Science 27 March 2015: Vol. 347 no. 6299 http://www.sciencemag.org/content/347/6229/1255957.abstractHolm, H.H. Pollinators of native plants: Attract, observe and identify pollinators and beneficial insects with native plants. 2014. Pollination Press LLC, Minnetonka, MN. Keuhn, F.B. Bee basics and pollinator protection. Golf Course Management, November 2015, 72-78.The Organic Center, The role of organic in supporting pollinator health. June 2015. Washington, DC. https://www.organic-center.org/hot-science/organic-center-report-the-role-of-organic-in-supporting-pollinator-health/
Sources for Current Projects in NH and More Information on Pollinators:
https://www.pollinator.org/
U.S. Forest Service: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/
http://www.cheerios.com/bringbackthebees
http://beyondpesticides.org/programs/bee-protective-pollinators-and-pesticides/bee-protective
Coos County Pollinator Garden at New Earth Organic Farm, Coos County Conservation District, Colebrook, NH. Email Sara Kilbourn, Adm. da.cccd@gmail.com
Creating Native Pollinator Habitat at an Orchard, Hillsborough County Conservation District, Hollis, NH. Email Kerry Rickrode, Dist. Mgr. Kerry.rickrode@NH.nacdnet.net or www.hillsboroughccd.com
NH Natural Resources Conservation Services, New Hampshire, US Dept. of Agriculture http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/nh/technical/ecoscience/?cid=stelprdb1078433
NH Beekeepers Association www.nhbeepkeepers.org
New England Wildflower Society www.newenglandwild.org
Pollinator-friendly Plants for the Northeast United States http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs144p2_027028.pdf
Pollinator Habitat http://extension.unh.edu/Wildflower-Meadows/Pollinator-Habitat
http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource005603_Rep7826.jpg
Plants with Good Pollinator Value
Species Common name
Achillea millefolium Common Yarrow
Agastache foeniculum Blue Giant Hyssops, Lavender or Anise Hyssop
Asclepias incarnate Swamp or Rose Milkweed, Rose Milkflower
Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Milkweed
Aquilegia canadensis Wild Columbine
Baptista australis Wild Indigo
Baptista tinctoria Yellow Wild Indigo
Cephalanthus occidentalis Button Bush
Coreopsis lanceolate Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis tinctoria Plain Annual Corepopsis
Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower
Eupatorium perfoliatum Boneset
Eutrochium purpureum Joe Pye Weed
Chamaecrista fasciculate Partridge Pea
Gaillarida pulchella Firewheel, Indian Blanket, Paintbrush, or Sundance
Gentiana clausa Bottle Gentian
Helenium autunmale Sneezeweed or Helen's Flower
Heleopsis helianthoides Ox Eye Sunflower
Iris versicolor Blue Flag Iris
Liatris spicata Dense Blazing Star
Linum perenne Perennial Blue Flax
Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower
Lobularia maritima Sweet Allysum
Lonicera sempervirens Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lupinis perennis Sundial Lupine
Monarda fistulosa Bee Balm, Wild Bergamot
Osteospermum Daisybush
Penstemon digitalis Foxglove Beardtongue
Physostegia virginiana Obedient Plant
Rudbeckia fulgida Black-eyed Susan
Solidago speciosa Showy Goldenrod
Spiraea alba Meadow Sweet
Symphotricum novae angliae New England Aster
Tradescantia ohiensis Spiderwort
Verbena hastata Blue Vervain
Vernonia altissima Tall or Giant Ironweed
Veronicastrum virginicum Culver's Root
All herbs, if allowed to flower, are highly valued by bees and other beneficial insects.
Plant in groups of 6 plants because pollinators are more likely to find a group. Bees prefer to feed on a single species in a single trip, so groups are more valuable to them.
Plants with Unfavorable Pollinator Value
All hybridized varieties of plants
All double flowered or pom pom varieties, i.e. pom pom dahlias and marigolds. Double flowers have been selected for genes transforming stamen into pedals resulting in a loss of pollen.
All plants and shrubs treated with neonicotinoides (neonic) or organic phosphates