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Nov 14, 2019 10:09 AM CST
Name: Maggie
Sierra Foothills, Calaveras Co (Zone 8b)
Region: California Seed Starter Enjoys or suffers hot summers Vegetable Grower Winter Sowing Cat Lover
First - tomatoes and peppers need to be pollinated. You can do it yourself by walking around in the morning with a small craft paintbrush and wiggling a bit inside each flower. They're referred to as self pollinating as the flowers have everything they need - except the bee. There's talk in some circles of tomatoes pollinating better with a vibration that mimics a bee.

Flowers - many new hybrid flowers aren't as attractive to bees, but they will still come by to check them out before deciding they don't have as much pollen. There are some 'smelly' things (Frittelaria comes to mind - it's pollinated by flies). Anything sweet scented is a definite draw for bees (I put some sweet alyssum in my veggie beds for this reason). Offhand, I can't think of any flower that won't attract something that flies.

Birds will mostly be attracted to seedheads (so deadhead) and insects.

If she has certain times of day she doesn't head outside - morning glories close up in the afternoon in warm climates, moon flowers only open late in the day - you could plan blooms for her inside time. Look up plants pollinated by bats if she's in at night.

Parts of the yard - I don't really find bees and insects where there aren't flowers - so everything a good ways from the porch may work.
Remember, it is dangerous to the environment and ILLEGAL in MANY states (CA is one) to mail plants/bulbs/cuttings in. Let’s all practice Do No Harm while we walk this earth and find other ways to connect to one another through gardening.
Last edited by Faerygardener Nov 14, 2019 2:06 PM Icon for preview
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Nov 14, 2019 10:18 AM CST
Name: Diana
Southeast Missouri (Zone 6a)
Cat Lover Vegetable Grower Enjoys or suffers hot summers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: Missouri Irises
Canning and food preservation Hibiscus Dog Lover Daylilies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Corn and other grasses are wind pollinated... I know, their flowers aren't even visible...
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Nov 14, 2019 10:33 AM CST
Name: Karen
Colorado (Zone 5b)
Thanks Diana & Maggie,

I hadn't put corn on my radar as I was looking for something with flowers, but I think I'm going to have to go to the non flowering plants, or those with less conspicuous flowers. I do have lot's of corn varieties I wan to grow. We do have a very large shady area, how are Hostas when they flower? Lots of insect activity?

My tomatoes and peppers were mostly pollinated by the wind, moths ( I think these are better tolerated in that they don't 'buzz') and by hand. They have such small flowers that they're not a huge attractant to the larger flying insects, so I think we'll be safe there. I did find out that Sunflowers are definitely off the list, as the cultivars I planted and especially the native multi-headed, roadside type that volunteered in my yard last summer, drew EVERY kind of flying pollinator there is: beetles, flies, wasps, moths, bees, butterflies. I made a joke with her that If she had ever had "romp through a sunflower field" on her bucket list she better just scratch that off right now! Funny, about a week after that conversation we started having pics of people we knew, as well as random pics of people doing just that, pop up on our social media... Thinking
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Nov 14, 2019 11:18 AM CST
Name: Lisa
Boston, MA. (Zone 6a)
Birds Dog Lover Foliage Fan Hummingbirder Seed Starter Winter Sowing
Avid Green Pages Reviewer
I dislike hosta blooms and I normally cut the stalks off before they bloom but in my memorial garden I let them bloom because my friend liked the blooms. The bees are all up in those hosta flowers... So I would say hostas can get scratched off your list as well unless you want to cut them down like I do
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Nov 14, 2019 12:36 PM CST
Name: Ronnie (Veronica)
Southeastern PA (Zone 6b)
Count your blessings, be grateful
Region: Ukraine Organic Gardener Keeps Goats Zinnias Dog Lover Morning Glories
Annuals Bee Lover Dragonflies Butterflies Hummingbirder Birds
If you have a good amount of shade coleus add lots of color and the flowers are easy to pinch off. Caladiums work well too without adding flowers.
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
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Nov 14, 2019 12:40 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Julie
Seattle (Zone 8a)
Bee Lover Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Hummingbirder Region: Pacific Northwest
If you live somewhere without year round hummingbirds, you can plant flowers normally evolved to attract hummingbirds with throats too long for even long-tongued bees and select the type that will open only before or after any hummingbird migrations. My red hot poker flowers and cuphea/cigar flowers are reserved for hummingbirds and no one else even tries it as the flower is too long. Really syrupy flowers like cape fuchsias will still get nectar robbers though so even though their flower is long, I'd nix that one. I've noticed no one seems to want to hit up my crossvine and I don't know why.

Good crops, other than your listed greens: Root veg, celery stalks, herbs if you harvest on time, legit parthenocarpic cucumbers you can get (and raise under mesh to deter bees who want to pollinate anyway).

You don't have to pollinate tomatoes and peppers (but they grow more fruit if you do) but they still attract bees. Tomatoes do prefer sonication so they specifically attract bumblebees.

If for whatever reason you don't have a lot of bumblebees in your area you can choose "complicated" flowers that honeybees tend to shun, like lupines (though they may come with lupine aphids) and snapdragons. I've also noticed very few insects care to bother with fancy pansies.

There's no way to prevent pest insects from coming, though, and with pest insects come predators (birds and other insects), so that's a tough one. You could regularly neem oil the plants (at night after bees have gone to bed) and probably keep it pretty low traffic.

I also found a garlic spray/soil drench to deter pretty much every dang living thing including pollinators, so search Amazon for that, using that regularly may keep EVERYTHING away, especially vampires. But it also may keep people away too 😂

I've observed that my calibrachoa do not attract any pollinators at all. Sometimes I get someone trying them out but they seem to be absolutely useless to pollinators. Fancy hybrid petunias also.

Anyway, best of luck with that, I completely understand. If it buzzes or it's yellow and black, my amygdala decides it's a life or death threat and tells my nervous system. Activate super panic sweating, running, crying powers! Thumbs down It's a real pain in the 'tocks!
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Nov 14, 2019 1:28 PM CST
Name: Karen
Colorado (Zone 5b)
Thanks all for weighing in! You've pretty much confirmed what I already knew. Was just hoping for some waay out of the box ideas. I personally love all the pollinators and have no problem trimming my salvias and sages that are simply humming with activity. While I'm at her house I just wanted to help her transform her wasteland into something beautiful that she won't be afraid to go out and enjoy. Thanks for the Pansy suggestion. I love these and you're right I don't notice 'much' activity around them.

@Joolie - What is this crossvine you speak of?
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Nov 14, 2019 1:39 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Julie
Seattle (Zone 8a)
Bee Lover Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Hummingbirder Region: Pacific Northwest
Bignonia capreolata, an aerial rooted woody climbing vine, evergreen. Has trumpet shaped flowers similar to trumpet vine but it's not an aggressive vine like trumpet vine. I use it to cover up my fir tree trunks that are by the power lines (so they've got bare butts!), and looked into climbing vines that would not damage the trees in any way (I've since confirmed with three arborists the trees are ok with it, I was so worried). The vines grow up about 30-50 feet and stop growing. Most of the flowers grow several feet up the vine on new growth, so I'm thinking maybe the bees and hummingbirds don't think to look there? I don't know. It's weird. They'd be great flowers for both hummingbirds and bees, but are almost completely ignored. Maybe too exposed to aerial predators? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anyway, it's such a polite plant and stays mostly green all year round (zone 8), can climb up any surface and for the short time it blooms, it's breathtaking. I was hoping this year it'd get pollinated and I'd get seeds but NOPE.

Now that I think if it, it may be great for this situation, as even if it did draw pollinators, it would be so far up in the air it may not trigger the phobia. I know everyone is not the same but I'm less freaked out if they are far away and not flying towards me. 😂

I like Almost Eden Plants for theirs, they have a few varieties. You can pretty easily get Tangerine Beauty type in most nurseries since it's sold by Monrovia.
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Nov 14, 2019 2:28 PM CST
Name: Maggie
Sierra Foothills, Calaveras Co (Zone 8b)
Region: California Seed Starter Enjoys or suffers hot summers Vegetable Grower Winter Sowing Cat Lover
Well, it is true that when everything is perfect a tomato flower is self pollinating. (from U.C.Ag) "That means it's not too hot or too cold, that the humidity is not too high or too low, and that there is a breeze.(during those perfect conditions) ..Similar is true for eggplants and peppers.... The ideal temperature for a tomato to set fruit is between 60° and 75°." But "No bees = fewer tomatoes. Research has shown that surrounding tomato fields with flowering plants improves yield". https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogco... Given my hot summers, I do my best to attract all the pollinators I can. Smiling I don' think of wind pollination as viable for the crop most home gardeners would expect. In a controlled greenhouse with strong fans - yes, it can work. But, I probably mis-spoke when I said not self pollinating. You *might* get some self pollinated fruits.

Anyhoo, you could have a few plants as a cutting garden - always cut the flower stem while the plant is in bud and (check for bugs) and bring it inside and vase it.

But, I'm getting nerdy here ...
Remember, it is dangerous to the environment and ILLEGAL in MANY states (CA is one) to mail plants/bulbs/cuttings in. Let’s all practice Do No Harm while we walk this earth and find other ways to connect to one another through gardening.
Last edited by Faerygardener Nov 14, 2019 2:33 PM Icon for preview
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Nov 14, 2019 6:05 PM CST
Name: Leslie
Chapin, SC (Zone 8a)
Keeps Sheep Daylilies Hybridizer Garden Photography Cat Lover Hummingbirder
Birds Region: South Carolina Plant and/or Seed Trader Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2 Avid Green Pages Reviewer
Thank you, thank you traders. I got four seeds from my wish list! Happy Happy Happy
Leslie

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
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Nov 14, 2019 6:15 PM CST
Name: Christine
North East Texas (Zone 7b)
Shine Your Light!
Heirlooms Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Bee Lover Herbs
Butterflies Dragonflies Birds Cat Lover Dog Lover Garden Photography
Me too! so excited about getting seeds from my wish list. Hurray! Thank You!
May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb

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Nov 14, 2019 6:16 PM CST
Name: Diana
Southeast Missouri (Zone 6a)
Cat Lover Vegetable Grower Enjoys or suffers hot summers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Region: Missouri Irises
Canning and food preservation Hibiscus Dog Lover Daylilies Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Whoo hoo! I got my top 7 - all from Ronnie - thank you! Best first swap day ever. Hurray!
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Nov 14, 2019 6:17 PM CST
Name: Maggie
Sierra Foothills, Calaveras Co (Zone 8b)
Region: California Seed Starter Enjoys or suffers hot summers Vegetable Grower Winter Sowing Cat Lover
I also was able to get my top 4! Yeah!!!! Happy Dance Smiling Thank you folks for such wonderful choices.
Remember, it is dangerous to the environment and ILLEGAL in MANY states (CA is one) to mail plants/bulbs/cuttings in. Let’s all practice Do No Harm while we walk this earth and find other ways to connect to one another through gardening.
Last edited by Faerygardener Nov 14, 2019 6:23 PM Icon for preview
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Nov 14, 2019 6:20 PM CST
Name: Alana H
SE Kentucky (Zone 7a)
Greenhouse Hibiscus Seed Starter Container Gardener Keeper of Poultry Rabbit Keeper
Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Plant and/or Seed Trader Annuals Bee Lover Butterflies
So yummy. Thank You!
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Nov 14, 2019 6:21 PM CST
Name: Ronnie (Veronica)
Southeastern PA (Zone 6b)
Count your blessings, be grateful
Region: Ukraine Organic Gardener Keeps Goats Zinnias Dog Lover Morning Glories
Annuals Bee Lover Dragonflies Butterflies Hummingbirder Birds
I'm thrilled with what I got Hurray!
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
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Nov 14, 2019 6:23 PM CST
(Zone 7a)
Got some of my top picks, too. Now to strategize for tomorrow night.
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Nov 14, 2019 6:24 PM CST
Name: Janine
NE Connecticut (Zone 6b)
Cat Lover Native Plants and Wildflowers Region: Connecticut Seed Starter Herbs Plant and/or Seed Trader
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Can't wait to start sowing Thank You!
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Nov 14, 2019 6:34 PM CST
Name: Lisa
Boston, MA. (Zone 6a)
Birds Dog Lover Foliage Fan Hummingbirder Seed Starter Winter Sowing
Avid Green Pages Reviewer
Thank You! I got my top wants!
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Nov 14, 2019 6:34 PM CST
Name: Karen
Colorado (Zone 5b)
@Joolie , I can't find your Bignonia capreolata.

I'm willing to try it... sounds like it might give the dreaded english ivy something to think about...
Avatar for maxx2
Nov 14, 2019 6:40 PM CST
wetern NY (Zone 6a)
Thanks for sharing everyone. Got 2 varieties I'd been eyeing at the garden store and 2 I didn't know I had to have! Looking forward to round 2.

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