Pollinator Garden

Planting for Beneficial Bugs and Insects

Throughout the year, the Boxerwood Pollinator Garden is lovingly tended to by volunteers from Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners Association (RAMGA) and the Virginia Native Plant Society. Each season demands specific care: sometimes, we let flowers go to seed, leaving behind seeds and plant stalks to support insects and even birds by providing food and shelter. Our volunteers have carefully chosen a mix of plants that change with the seasons, offering food and homes for native and introduced pollinators. In spring and summer, the garden bursts with vibrant colors because these plants have adapted to attract creatures that spread their pollen and seeds. 

To shield the plants from hungry deer, we have had to fence in the pollinator garden since some plants are quite tempting to these herbivores. These garden beds aren't just pretty—they're vital havens for bees, butterflies, and birds, providing crucial food and shelter. By attracting these pollinators, we're supporting biodiversity. Apart from their ecological role, these gardens also add beauty to outdoor spaces. Outside of the fenced pollinator garden, there are also beds of native plants attractive to many pollinators. If you are planting in your own yard and want to dodge deer damage, try choosing native plants and trees in Virginia that are not favored by deer.

The food web is the interconnectedness between the smallest microbes to the largest macrofauna. Pollinators are part of the food web in that they ensure that many species of plants are pollinated and able to create fruit and reproduce. They are also food themselves to other animals, like birds, bears, skunks, snakes, badgers, and some spiders. As much as we may not love flying, biting, and stinging insects, they are a necessary part of our healthy ecosystem.

PHOTO GALLERY: POLLINATOR GARDEN BLOOMS

CONTENT NOT YET CREATED. Each photo will include the species' name.