We might have heard of pollinator gardens, but we may not know where to start putting one on our properties. The Columbiana Women's Club hosted its monthly gathering on the topic and invited Cindy Tyler, the owner of Terra Design Studios in Wexford, Pennsylvania to speak on the benefits of pollinator gardens. 

A pollinator garden may not be the first thing on your spring and summer landscaping list, but the gardens bring many benefits from your backyard and beyond.

"Pollinators are struggling, their numbers are dropping, and we need them to pollinate our plants. That is their number one functional goal, to help save their pollinators. Another benefit is that they are beautiful and we try and get plants from April to October," says Cindy Tyler, owner of Terra Design Studios.

When considering planting a pollinator garden consider the size of the plant or even the color, for example, bees can't see red. Tyler also adds to remember to plant native species in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania to attract pollinators to your garden. Pollinator insects range from bees to hoverflies to butterflies and beyond.

"The heavy lifting is done by our native bees. We have 500 species here in this part of Ohio, compared to what most people think of as the honey bee and they do a lot of real true work. Pollinator gardens are important to help them because they help us," says Tyler. 

A pollinator garden isn't something that is just reserved for a park but it's something that can be done at a home or school as well.

"I suggest to people, take the scale with what you're comfortable with and get to know what native plants look like and learn their beauty. It could be small, it could be a pocket garden, it could be your whole yard if you want to go that whole way with a meadow. This park is a perfect example, taking a public space and taking that to invite pollinators to come. Our rights of ways, our schools are a really great opportunity," says Tyler. 

More information on future events in the Columbiana Women's Club garden events series can be on their Facebook or by following this LINK