November 2022

With Election Day just around the corner (next Tuesday, November 8, to be exact), I was reminded of another election night many, many years ago. Don’t worry, this is in no way political (although if you know me, you know I am a political creature).

As we look to clean up leaves, twigs, dried up plants, etc. common this time of year. Instead of throwing away the debris, there’s a crafty alternative: build a pollinator nest. Some gardeners toss twigs, thatch and branches at the end of fall to prepare for winter. But those dry plant materials are where some pollinator species — such as bees, butterflies, wasps, flies and beetles — hibernate through the winter to emerge next spring. And now ― as plants dry out, stems harden, and temperatures drop ― is the perfect time to gather this hollow material pollinators love.