![Ants are pollinators](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_f19778fbb6e4426dbf71c3f6267a7e7e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_auto/1eb7ff_f19778fbb6e4426dbf71c3f6267a7e7e~mv2.webp)
Ants are pollinators
Plants’ seeds feed the ants and the ants plant the seeds. It's that simple.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_ca8be5af930c40ddae7e97222f7b86c3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_ca8be5af930c40ddae7e97222f7b86c3~mv2.webp)
![Summer Long-Horned Bees are back](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_ca8be5af930c40ddae7e97222f7b86c3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_ca8be5af930c40ddae7e97222f7b86c3~mv2.webp)
Summer Long-Horned Bees are back
Yay! They are back! Every year I plant sunflowers from seedlings for pollinators. And I have to admit that the main pollinators I have in...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_e75bbe7d190f4490ad46c5b37e2c1d99~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_e75bbe7d190f4490ad46c5b37e2c1d99~mv2.webp)
![Buckeye Butterflies](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_e75bbe7d190f4490ad46c5b37e2c1d99~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_e75bbe7d190f4490ad46c5b37e2c1d99~mv2.webp)
Buckeye Butterflies
I used to just rarely see Buckeye butterflies in our garden. Now, happily, I'm seeing several of them daily. Here is one that visited our...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_a9223ae8943e446e8547f7e7f80256ac~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_a9223ae8943e446e8547f7e7f80256ac~mv2.webp)
![A bee fly visits](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_a9223ae8943e446e8547f7e7f80256ac~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_a9223ae8943e446e8547f7e7f80256ac~mv2.webp)
A bee fly visits
At first glance from a distance, many bees look very similar. And this goes for bee flies, as well. But when you look closer, you can...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_4c01a6fbfc324904aa8ddb9bda506965~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_4c01a6fbfc324904aa8ddb9bda506965~mv2.webp)
![Yellow-Faced Bumble Bee?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_4c01a6fbfc324904aa8ddb9bda506965~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_4c01a6fbfc324904aa8ddb9bda506965~mv2.webp)
Yellow-Faced Bumble Bee?
This bumble bee was visiting our native buckwheat patch several days ago. From a distance I thought it was a Yellow-Faced bumble bee...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_e0478367778549feb2aec6fbfe4f9874~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_e0478367778549feb2aec6fbfe4f9874~mv2.webp)
![Leave the leaves for birds and insects](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_e0478367778549feb2aec6fbfe4f9874~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_e0478367778549feb2aec6fbfe4f9874~mv2.webp)
Leave the leaves for birds and insects
Remember that some birds need leaves and twigs for summer nesting. Many beneficial insects also need fallen leaves. Read more here:...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_5d09de30e14145dd897095485795aaba~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_5d09de30e14145dd897095485795aaba~mv2.webp)
![Leaf cutting bees handiwork](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_5d09de30e14145dd897095485795aaba~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_5d09de30e14145dd897095485795aaba~mv2.webp)
Leaf cutting bees handiwork
There must be some leaf cutting bee Megachilidae nests near by, judging from all of the circular cutouts in these leaves. You can see...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_2cb14be059104cfca45385c9978bf898~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_2cb14be059104cfca45385c9978bf898~mv2.webp)
![One of our first Monarch caterpillars this year](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_2cb14be059104cfca45385c9978bf898~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_2cb14be059104cfca45385c9978bf898~mv2.webp)
One of our first Monarch caterpillars this year
Here is one of several Monarch caterpillars currently munching on our milkweed. This one is on the leaf of a native Showy milkweed. The...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_bc7fef2f8060431f9d1e4939f45fc984~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_bc7fef2f8060431f9d1e4939f45fc984~mv2.webp)
![Butterflies visiting the garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_bc7fef2f8060431f9d1e4939f45fc984~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_bc7fef2f8060431f9d1e4939f45fc984~mv2.webp)
Butterflies visiting the garden
It's so wonderful to see the Navajo fleabane flourishing again in spite of insufficient winter and spring rains. It's even better when...