Pollinators and people thrive in a space free of pesticides with plenty nutrients, a healthy microbiome, minerals, and sunshine.
These plants grow easily without attracting deer and other pests:
Mint blooms are popular with all pollinators. Monarchs swarm my spearmint every year. Monarchs lay eggs on the milkweed because it has many properties that nurture monarch growth, but the butterflies themselves consume a variety of blooms.
Sage!
Crocuses
Lilacs. You can also make a tasty kombucha with the blooms.
Thymus fragrantissimus is the only thyme I’ve tried for pollinators, but they love it so much that I have to include it here.
Open-center roses. I always thought it cruel that people bred roses to be closed on top because pollinators circle around the rose, but they cannot access the pollen.
Love roses? Select a rose with an open top that allows pollinators to enjoy the pollen. You will have better blooms, too.
If we observe our roses, they are good teachers. When you see them suffering from insects or other problems, see if they require fertilizer, minerals, and/or microbe supplements.
Aphids: When my roses arrived, one of them immediately got attacked by aphids. A friend had recommended “Coccinella septempunctata” (a homeopathic), so I had already stocked in. It worked overnight. I was really happy. The next thing I did was to 1) buy extra ladybugs, 2) add mineral supplements, and 3) add rose microbes.
Happy Spring!