While there may be bulbs blooming, resist the urge to plant—it’s still too early in Colorado—and use that time to plan your spring and summer landscape. Consider planting for pollinators. Create a habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, insects, and maybe even bats.

They play an important function within our collective urban ecosystem and around our home veggie gardens.

Pollinator-friendly plants are easy to incorporate into your landscape. You may already have some of them. Think about the plants you have at home and plan to add more. 

A variety of plants attracts and meets the needs of many kinds of pollinators throughout the growing season. Some, like hummingbirds, enjoy long, tubular flowers, while some butterflies prefer a wide flat flower that serves as a landing pad. 

Annuals like dianthus, nasturtium, zinnia, and lantana are good at attracting pollinators. Got limited space for plantings? Do your part for pollinators by planting flowers in containers on porches and patios.

Choose an assortment of perennials with staggered bloom times to give pollinators food and shelter throughout the growing season. Consider Colorado Columbine, echinacea, gaillardia. penstemon and salvia. 

For more suggestions, talk with a landscape professional or your local garden center pros to find out what will do well in your landscape while also benefiting a range of pollinators.