100 Plants to Feed the Bees: Provide a Healthy Habitat to Help Pollinators Thrive Kindle Edition

This was an excellent gardening reference for plants that provide benefits to bees. I was especially glad that it included information on which plants provided nectar (or are host plants) to hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. The focus, though, was on honey bees.I was disappointed that the book brought in non-native plant species which can escape and become invasive. The authors reminded you to check locally to see if particular plants are invasive in your area. However, I would have preferred that only native species be covered and that more detailed map ranges for specific recommended varieties be included in the book. Even when a variety is native to North America, it can be invasive in some regions.

The Xerces Society is a non-profit scientific conservation organization focused on habitat and species conservation and restoration, protecting pollinators, contributing to watershed health, and reducing harm to invertebrates from pesticide use. The book was published to ensure that the flowers necessary to pollinators, especially native wildflowers, are provided in sufficient amount, whether it be in our gardens or throughout our communities. The book is divided into five sections: native wildflowers; native trees and shrubs; introduced trees and shrubs; introduced herbs and ornamentals; and native and nonnative pasture plants. The sections are not meant to be comprehensive. Rather each offers some ‘favorites’ from the authors as an introduction to using plants to support pollinators.The sections are clearly presented following a set pattern of data presentation. Beautiful close-up photographs accompany each plant described. The authors present a brief overview of plants and pollinators and the rationale for their importance in the world. You will find the common and Latin name for each plant, where in the U.S. it can be grown, and the specific pollinators it attracts, i.e., honey bee, common bee, butterfly, and moth. The essential conditions for growth as well as bloom time are briefly noted. The uses of each plant are also listed, such as ornamental, farm buffer, caterpillar host, edible, hedgerow, and the like.What I especially enjoyed about this book is the presentation of so much material in a terse, uniform, useful manner. Each plant gets 2 pages and the information occurs in the same place and format for every plant. Graphics are frequently used to tell the plants’ stories. The table of contents is direct and no-nonsense. The size of this book is also handy, 6”x 8” and 230 pages. It is handy to carry around when doing plant walks. And to use in adding essential plants for pollinators, using no pesticides, and no maintenance in your own green space.

A good book to nudge you into planting more beneficial plants for bees and other pollinators. Instead of just buying what looks nice at the store, research and buy shrubs, annuals, and perennials that provide nectar and pollen. We all like to eat so do your part and provide something for all the pollinators. Stop adding sterile plants as they do not benefit anyone...including you. Start being proactive in thinking about the wildlife around you and it cannot be taken for granted that it will always be there without the environment to support and sustain. This books gives you detailed info and pictures to assist plant buyers. Take it with you to the nursery and refer to. Plant more beneficial plants for beneficial pollinators and you will benefit too!!

This was a great book. I expected it to be written by experienced gardeners, but it was actually written by expert conservationists, so I was impressed. They listed specific plants and which specific bee, butterfly, and moth species are attracted to them. I learned more about bees, pollinators and plants than I expected, like how to avoid double-petal flowers. I also learned that many hybrid plants you find in grocery stores and places like home depot provide very little pollen and nectar for bees. Before buying this book I bought several plants and noticed they were attracting few visitors. Now I know why. The only con to this book is that it focuses almost exclusively on wildflowers and wild grown trees - plants that sometimes aren't available commercially. They added only a short list of common garden plants that are easy to find - like lavender and cilantro.

A very informative book. I ordered this book because I wanted to provide the best plants possible for building the best pollinator garden in my yard. With the help of this book I was able to achieve a balanced ecosystem and habitat where there was the right amount of good and bad bugs while feeding the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds at the same time. It is very satisfying to be able to achieve a balance where everything has harmony. And the greatest reward of all is that my flowers, vegetable garden, and fruit trees all get pollinated at the same time. If you are interested in learning which plants will help you to provide a habitat for the bees in your yard give this book a read. Excellent reference book.

Neat little book which is good for someone that might not garden, might not know a lot about flowers, bees, hummingbirds, or butterflies. Will give you a basic look and basic explanation for flowers and what they're best for and where they're typically grown. As a horticulturalist and beekeeper it was a little elementary for me but would be great for the beggining gardener and beginning bee keeper.

This is an easy to read, brief guide on plants that will help support North American pollinators. Don't expect detailed horticultural information, and don't expect this to be a guide for a beekeeper, but this gives lots of interesting facts about plants that are primarily native to the US (although it does include some introduced species that are good for pollinators). This book is perfect for the gardener who's just dipping his or her toes into gardening for pollinators, although as an experienced gardener, I still enjoyed reading it and discovered some plants I want to add to my garden!I found the simple key to which pollinators a plant will attract a helpful feature.

Didn’t find this v useful as it’s an American book and we are in England so no real use Book should have clearly stated all the information was American based!! Would not recommend

Present for my dad. He loved it but . I ended up reading it cover to cover before giving it to him!Lovely photos and laid out really nicely.

Very pleased you learn a lot from it

Very good read

Loved this little gem of a book! Let me know what I have and what I can plant next year to attract more bees and birds to my yard!