Woodlanders Journal

Restoring Connectivity

Using the power of the home garden to mend native landscapes.

On habitat fragmentation, pollinator decline, and how the home garden can become one of the most powerful small acts of repair.

It is no secret that urban landscapes are quickly unfolding across the United States, filling in open land and becoming the norm rather than the exception. Wild spaces are becoming fewer and farther between, especially in the Southeast. Human progress is not going to slow down, nor should it. We will continue to grow, to build, to better ourselves. However, we cannot leave behind the flora and fauna that have made us who we are; the species so intertwined with our history that it would be impossible to separate ourselves cleanly from them.

The environmental disturbances associated with urban sprawl have long since been blamed for the decline in animal, plant, and insect populations and diversity. There may be no stopping urban sprawl, but perhaps we can stop our beloved companions from slowly disappearing. Enter the pollinator garden: one of the simplest, most immediate, and most beautiful tools available to the home gardener.

I. The problem

Lost connection

As human populations expand, we are evolving at a faster pace than the natural world around us. Our innate need to create has led to habitat loss as forests are knocked down to build apartments and overgrown fields are cleared for corporate campuses. In urban areas, impervious surfaces, light pollution, and increased temperatures make it challenging for wild species to adapt and survive.

Insect populations have been hit exceptionally hard by this phenomenon. Due to habitat fragmentation, it has become increasingly difficult for insects—and other pollinators—to find nectar sources, as wild spaces grow farther and farther apart. As of 2025, insect populations were described in your draft as facing an annual decline of 6.6%. The stakes are difficult to overstate: insects are responsible for the pollination of 79% of the world’s plants. Without insects, what becomes of the plants we love so dearly? And what becomes of insect populations without the presence of those plants?

II. The solution

Restoring connectivity, one garden at a time

The problem may seem daunting, but the great news is that every homeowner has the power to make real change happen. Pollinator gardens are built on a simple, age-old idea: if you build it, they will come. In suburban and urban areas, these gardens increase permeability, allowing species to move more freely between habitat patches.

Regardless of how we look at it, pollinator gardens are win-win-win. Neighborhoods are beautified, insects and wildlife have a place to call home, and homeowners gain time back that would otherwise have been spent mowing lawns.

The idea of pollinator gardens may feel like a relatively new solution, but in the past several years academia has embraced the idea, giving way to important research about what makes the best pollinator garden. Here is what the science in your article emphasizes: size does not matter as much as diversity. Plant species richness is the most important factor in attracting pollinators, outweighing both garden size and flower abundance. Nectar productivity also plays an important role in how many pollinators are invited into the garden. Flowers high in nectar will draw pollinators in, but species richness will make them stay.

Your article also notes that a high diversity of plant species has been shown to improve the abundance of both generalist and specialist pollinators. That is one of the most liberating truths about pollinator gardening: the garden can be as large or as small as your site allows. There is enormous creative freedom in the category. No two pollinator gardens are exactly the same, and there is no time like the present to choose a patch of earth and begin.

III. Proof

Proof it works

Your original draft includes one of the most encouraging examples in contemporary pollinator gardening literature: a study discussed by entomologist and conservationist Doug Tallamy found that monarchs were actually more likely to visit garden plantings of milkweed rather than wild sites.

The implication is powerful. If milkweed were mass planted across neighborhoods, towns, and private gardens, monarch populations might have a better chance to stabilize and rebound from their rapid decline. The lesson is not that home gardens replace intact ecosystems. They do not. But they can help mend gaps. They can create stepping stones. They can soften fragmentation in a meaningful way.

IV. Design and build

Building and designing pollinator gardens

Now for the fun part. The first step to building a pollinator garden is to read your space honestly. Before choosing plants, ask a few foundational questions:

Once you have narrowed down what species will work best for your site, it is time to consider design. Your original article identifies three primary design factors:

Bloom time is arguably the most important factor to consider. If your garden blooms from early spring to late fall, pollinators can continue visiting through the length of the season.

Color and height are important aesthetic factors, but your article wisely goes further. It suggests considering other design qualities too, such as texture and movement. If one species is light and airy, pair it with something that has stronger structure to create contrast and balance.

It is also worth remembering that different bloom colors can attract different pollinators. Hummingbirds are often drawn to red. Purples and yellows are especially attractive to bees. White blooms can be useful for night-active pollinators such as bats and moths.

When planting the garden, be sure to plan for spread. Most native plants move quite readily once established, so give each planting a wide berth of roughly 2–4 feet, depending on species. And wherever possible, plant like species together. Bees will find it much easier to forage if similar blooms are close by.

V. Plant palette

Pollinators’ favorite perennials

These genera were specifically chosen in your article for their long bloom seasons, variation in height and color, and high nectar production. They are far from the only worthy options, but they make an excellent place to begin.

Asclepias (Milkweed)

Common species: Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias tuberosa, Asclepias verticillata

Light: Full Sun   |   Soil moisture: Varies by species

Bloom Time: Summer–Fall

One of the most popular pollinator garden plants, Asclepias is famed for its close relationship with monarch butterflies. Any milkweed is a worthy addition to the garden, offering blooms in white, yellow, orange, or pink depending on species.

Coreopsis (Tickseed)

Common species: Coreopsis lanceolata, Coreopsis tinctoria, Coreopsis verticillata

Light: Full Sun   |   Soil: Prefers dry to moist soils

Bloom Time: Spring–Fall

A wonderful genus to plant if you are looking for groundcover-like brightness and a long season of cheerful bloom.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Common species: Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea tennesseensis

Light: Full Sun   |   Moisture: Moist soils, often drought tolerant once established

Bloom Time: Summer–Fall

A native classic that brings strong form, long bloom, and excellent support for butterflies, bees, and birds.

Monarda (Bee Balm)

Common species: Monarda didyma, Monarda fistulosa, Monarda punctata

Light: Full Sun   |   Moisture: Prefers moist soils

Bloom Time: Spring–Summer

The truth is in the name: a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, with strong color and presence in the garden.

Phlox

Common species: Phlox carolina, Phlox paniculata, Phlox pilosa

Light: Full Sun–Part Shade   |   Moisture: Dry to moist soils

Bloom Time: Spring–Fall

Among the earliest and most abundant seasonal bloomers, phlox is excellent for extending color and pollinator activity throughout the year.

Pycnanthemum (Mountain Mint)

Common species: Pycnanthemum flexuosum, Pycnanthemum muticum, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Light: Full Sun   |   Moisture: Prefers moist soils, but can be drought tolerant

Bloom Time: Summer–Fall

One of the most hardworking genera in the pollinator garden—fragrant, structurally useful, and wildly attractive to a wide variety of beneficial insects.

Pollinators’ favorite woodies

Woody plants are just as important to pollinators as perennials. They extend bloom seasons, provide cover and fruit, and often hold the garden structurally when herbaceous material is resting.

VI. Habitat beyond flowers

Other things to consider when planting a pollinator garden

So far, we have reviewed why pollinator gardens matter, how to build them, and what species to choose. There are, however, just a few more factors to think about. Blooms and color are important, but pollinators and wildlife need more than food alone. A true pollinator garden provides food, water, and shelter.

First, consider integrating a bird bath or another shallow water source into your design. Change the water often to avoid mosquito larvae. Second, remember that providing shelter for a wide variety of insects is often easier than people think. In many cases, it looks like taking a more hands-off approach to gardening.

Leaving a patch or two of bare earth gives ground-nesting bees a chance to build a home. Leaving leaves and pine needles in the yard gives insects a place to overwinter—while also enriching the soil. Skip deadheading flower stalks in winter. Many insects choose to nest and overwinter inside dead plant material, including stems and flower stalks. Instead, wait until early spring to cut things back, when new growth is beginning to appear.

These small patches of shelter benefit not only insects, but also amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. Leaving seed heads on the plants will provide an important winter food source for birds when food is scarce.

Now you are ready to plant. The garden is the first step to restoring connectivity for wildlife throughout your town or city. Even the smallest garden can make a difference, and the time to act is now. If you want to go one step further, consider registering the garden as a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation, or advocating for native and pollinator gardens in your neighborhood and HOA.

VII. A few final questions

Pollinator garden notes, answered

VIII. Sources

References