Tell the Bees: Plant Selection

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Its bold purple blooms provide visual stimulation and a sense of seasonal change, which can reduce stress and promote mindfulness. Studies show that exposure to flowering landscapes can improve mood and cognitive function. Provides abundant nectar and pollen throughout its long blooming season, supporting species such as Eastern Bumble Bees, Mason Bees, Mining Bees, Sweat Bees, and Long-horned Bees. The composite flower design offers an efficient foraging platform, allowing bees of various sizes to access resources easily.

Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) Its striking, blue-purple flower spikes add dynamic vertical interest to landscapes, drawing the eye and encouraging mindful observation. Its role in restoring soil health and supporting biodiversity can enhance feelings of environmental stewardship and connectedness. Its spikes of pea-like flowers that attract a range of bees, including bumblebees and mining bees. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it enriches the soil, indirectly supporting a healthier ecosystem for pollinators.

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) The herbaceous, aromatic foliage has a calming effect and can stimulate relaxation and sensory engagement. The aroma also acts as an additional attractant for pollinators, drawing them into the garden. Its striking, clustered blooms encourage visitors to linger, fostering interaction and mindfulness. Its tubular, nectar-rich blooms are particularly well-suited to native bees such as Eastern Bumble Bees, Mason Bees, Mining Bees, Sweat Bees, and Long-horned Bees.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Extends the flowering season into the fall, providing ongoing opportunities for nature connection when other blooms have faded. The shifting colors and forms of aster blooms can encourage reflective practices and a sense of continuity in nature’s cycles. Its easily accessible, daisy-like flower form allows a wide variety of native bees to forage efficiently, while its late blooming season helps maintain healthy pollinator populations later in the year.

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) The cheerful yellow blossoms can brighten any space, lifting moods and instilling a sense of optimism. Its low-growing, delicate clusters create an inviting, open garden feel that encourages outdoor activity and relaxation. Golden Alexanders produce flat-topped clusters of yellow flowers that are highly attractive to a variety of bees, including mining bees, sweat bees, and mason bees. Blooming in early spring, it offers one of the first nectar sources of the season, crucial for early emerging bee species.