Blogroll | Congregation Darchei Noam

The world is experiencing alarming declines in wildlife habitats and with it significant species extinctions and loss of biodiversity.  We can help pollinators on a personal level by planting native flowers, whether we have a yard or a single pot on a high-rise balcony. Birds and insects migrate together; flying high, they make use of upper gardens.  Envision 20 floors of balconies all with a pot of native plants. Talk to your condo board and manager about including pollinator gardens as part of the landscaping and/or a roof garden. 

If you are still purchasing flowers, this is an excellent opportunity to create an oasis of native plants for our bees, butterflies, other insects, and hummingbirds. By helping pollinators you will be helping to ensure a flourishing food supply for humans and birds and other creatures at the same time.

Pollinators have co-evolved with native plants. Some pollinators are specialized requiring particular plants for nectar, pollen, and laying their eggs. Monarch caterpillars needing milkweed leaves to survive are not the soul examples of specialized caterpillars. As the host plant provides food for any emerging caterpillars, these insect larvae become sources of concentrated nutrition for ravenous nestlings.  Pollinators like bumble bees are generalists and are able to do well with any native plants and some ornamental and non-native ones.

When purchasing any non-native plants, select ones with single rows of petals to allow insects to quickly find and access the nectar and pollen. Most double-petal varieties and hybrids have little or no nectar and pollen.  Go for heirloom vegetable plants. Like single-petal flowers, they are better sources of nutrition for pollinators.

As we do, bees and other pollinators require variety in their diets to be healthy.  Because the nutrients in nectar and pollen vary among plant species, include different kinds. Choose flowers and shrubs that have different blooming times. Pollinators emerging from their winter sleep feed on early flowering trees, shrubs and woodland flowers.  Fall flowers like asters and goldenrods help fuel migrating insects. Where space permits grow clumps of the same flowers. As they flit from flower to flower, the pollinators save energy and time.  Remember, even one native plant is helpful. 

Provide a container of water for thirsty birds and insects.  If it’s a large dish or a bird bath without a landing, create one by adding a stone or other object to come above the water level.   

Once the pollinators are familiar with your garden and it becomes more established, they spread the word amongst themselves and the numbers of visitors will increase. Don’t worry, almost all of our native bees can’t sting and are only disturbed if their nest or hive is threatened. As a bonus, native plantings will attract more pollinators to your vegetable garden.   

Thank you for your efforts and support.  Rewilding our spaces helps to ensure a secure food supply for bees, for us, and other creatures.  These areas of greenery are beneficial in reducing the climate crisis and the severity of its harmful, devastating effects on our well-being and the earth and all its life forms. The Shomrei Adamah Committee

You can find guides to establishing a pollinator-friendly garden and choosing appropriate plants at these sites.

Parks Canada

City of Guelph

This site in addition to information on establishing a pollinator garden, has examples of garden designs and native plants for sun and partial shade through the seasons specific to Ontario.  Note that a recommended plant, the butterfly weed, is a milkweed and is not the butterfly bush.  The latter is non-native and can become invasive.

The Toronto Master Gardeners

This site includes excellent information for gardening on balconies and most recommendations would be applicable to roof top gardens. Generally, plants have to be wind and drought resistant or be provided with screens.