Michael McDowell didn't want a "generic, boring, high-maintenance, suburban landscape." He bought a home in May of 2004 in Plano and started a project to turn that same boring and plain (think green grass) landscape into a native prairie. Little did he know that he was also creating outstanding bee habitat.
Michael's yard ---BEFORE
Michael's website includes a great list of plants that attract bees to his garden. I've included it here, but I encourage you to go back to Michael's site, start at the beginning, and read the whole website to see how he made this outstanding transformation of his suburban yard. It's a great read with some great photos.
Frogfruit, Phyla nodiflora
Beebrush, Aloysia gratissima
Mexican Bird of Paradise, Caesalpinia gilliesii
Angel’s Trumpet, Datura wrightii
Greggs Mistflower, Conoclinium greggii
Zexmenia, Wedelia hispida
Salvia species – Gregg, Mexican Bush, Mountain, Mealy Blue, Picher
Prairie verbena, Verbena bipinnatifida
Pink Skullcap, Scutellaria suffrutescens
Desert Willow, Chilopsis linearis
Mexican Hat, Ratibida columnaris
Frostweed, Verbesina virginica
Fragrant Mistflower, Eupatorium havanense
Possumhaw Holly, Illex decidua
Yaupon Holly, Illex vomitoria
Gregg Dalea, Dalea greggii
Fall aster, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Goldenrod, Solidago rugosa
Horsemint, Monarda citriodora
Snow on the prairie, Euphorbia bicolor
Many of these plants may be available at your local nurseries. You could also find them at native plant society sales typically held in spring and fall. Why not try and start one new bed this spring with a few of these bee-friendly plants?
I'd like to send a big welcome to Michael as the owner of the Official, Certified, Texas Bee Garden #10. Consider yourself an Official Bee Watcher as well. Welcome from Texas Bee Watchers and the 1000+ species of native bees in our great state of Texas.
Wouldn't it bee great if all 42 came in before the end of the year? But what is really great when I see any suburban/urban yard transformed into a native landscape supporting all pollinators - - - like the Plano Prairie Garden!
Posted by: Kim | 12/15/2010 at 06:43 AM
Thanks Kim. I am looking forward to receiving my certificate.
The next couple of weeks could be busy if you get those last 42 submissions!
Posted by: Plano Prairie Garden | 12/14/2010 at 06:39 PM