A Northern Gardener's Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators

by Lorraine Johnson, Sheila Colla, Douglas Tallamy (Foreword by), Anne Sanderson (Illustrator)

Overview

Few sights are as charming as a hummingbird hovering over cardinal flowers in your backyard or a butterfly lighting on the black-eyed Susans potted on your balcony. Yet pollinators do more than beguile us: they are key to a healthy environment. With many pollinators threatened and their habitats disappearing, gardeners can make a real difference by planting native species that support these amazing creatures. The trick is knowing what species to plant and how to help them thrive.
 
If you’re a gardener (or aspiring gardener) in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, or Great Lakes region, this beautiful 4-color guide will become your go-to reference to the most beneficial plants in your area. It includes profiles of more than 300 native plants, featuring lovely illustrations and photos, information on blooming periods, exposure, soil moisture, and good plant companions, as well as how each species supports specific pollinators.
 
You’ll learn more about common plants you thought you knew and be introduced to species you may have never encountered before. Blooming flowers, native grasses, trees, shrubs, vines, and plants for rain and pond gardens are all included. White Baneberry, Woodland Strawberry, Boneset, Virginia Mountain Mint, Smooth Aster, and many others may find their way from these pages to your soil.
 
While understanding specific plants is key, so too are growing strategies. Here you’ll learn how to prepare your site and find sample garden designs, whether your growing space is an apartment balcony, a residential yard, or a community garden. Throughout, you’ll discover the power of plants to not only enrich your personal environment but to support the pollinators necessary for a thriving planet.  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642832990
Publisher:	Island Press
Publication date:	04/11/2023
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

Lorraine Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three decades. Johnson is the author or editor of fourteen books, including 100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for American Gardens in Temperate Zones and Grow Wild! 
 
Sheila Colla is a Conservation Scientist working to conserve wildlife including native pollinators. She is part of York University’s Bee Research Organization BeeC, which aims to address pollinator health and sustainable agriculture from an interdisciplinary perspective.
 
Ann Sanderson has an undergraduate degree in zoology and biology from the University of Toronto and attended the Science Illustration program at the University of California in Santa Cruz. She is now a freelance illustrator in Toronto, ON.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Douglas Tallamy
Introduction: Pollinators Bring Life

Chapter 1: The Rusty-Patched Bumblebee and Other Native
Pollinators 
A Primer on the Pollination of Flowering Plants 
The Scoop on Honeybees 

Chapter 2: Native Plants Matter 
Native Plants
But Don’t Non-Native Plants Attract Pollinators, Too?
All Green Is Not Green!
What About Cultivars of Native Plants?
Where to Find Native Plants
The Climate Change Connection 
Diversity, Diversity, Diversity

Chapter 3: Starting Your Garden for Native Pollinators
Site Preparation
Designing Your Pollinator Patch
Native Plants for Containers
Turning Lawns into Gardens
Planting Your Patch
Maintaining Your Patch
Native Herbaceous Plants for Pollen Specialists
As Your Garden Grows
Adding Native Plants to an Existing Garden Bed
From Plants…to Plant Communities
Beyond the Patch
Nesting Sites and Overwintering Habitat for Native Bees
Checklist for Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Yard and Garden

Chapter 4: Profiles of Native Plants 
Spring-Blooming Native Plants
Summer-Blooming Native Plants
Fall-Blooming Native Plants 
Native Grasses and Sedges
Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines
Rain Gardens
Pond and Bog Gardens
Ask for Me—and Grow the Native Plant Movement
Boulevard (a.k.a. “hell-strip”) Gardens
Concerns…and Reassurances
Great Combinations of Native Perennials for a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

Chapter 5: Sample Garden Designs
Balcony Garden
Community Garden
Public Patch
High-Density Residential 
Residential Garden

Chapter 6: Resources 
Native Plant Ranges
Native Plant Groups 
Native Plant Nurseries 
Selected Books

Acknowledgments
Index 
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators is more than just a gardening manual; it’s a call to action. It’s a beautifully written and informative guide that will undoubtedly inspire countless gardeners to create vibrant, ecologically rich landscapes. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this book is an essential addition to your library. It’s a gift to both your garden and the planet.”
 

Dave the Bug Guy

A Northern Gardner's Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators is a valuable resource that no Northern California gardener should be without.… Lovely color illustrations by Ann Sanderson enhance the growing strategy instructions and opportunities presented in this book, which covers everything from planning a garden to choosing native plants with its pollinators in mind.”
 

California Book Watch

"A glorious manifesto... Profusely illustrated, it highlights dozens of pollinator-worthy flowering plants for home and community gardens. An encyclopedic but highly accessible book that belongs with every gardener and naturalist."

Stephen Buchmann

"This book has it all—sample garden plans, beautiful illustrations and photographs, a comprehensive section profiling native plants and the specific pollinators the plants support, answers to common pollinator gardening questions, and a discussion about the critical link between native plants and pollinators…gardeners will treasure this extremely informative book."

Heather Holm

Informatively illustrated on every page, A Northern Gardener's Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators is an ideal and comprehensive compendium that is thoroughly 'gardener friendly' in organization and presentation. An essential horticultural and gardening reference for both novice and experienced gardeners alike, A Northern Gardener's Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators must be considered a core and essential addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Gardening/Horticulture reference and identification collections.”
 

Midwest Book Review

"What a valuable, comprehensive, timely, and beautiful resource! Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla provide the rationale, urgency, and detailed know-how for restoring essential pollinator habitats. Just a fantastic contribution!"
 

Douglas Tallamy

"A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators resonates with environmentalists and nature enthusiasts alike with its focus on native plants and their crucial relationship with pollinators. This comprehensive guide tackles the pitfalls of traditional landscaping while pushing readers toward adopting sustainable landscaping practices and creating habitats in the Northern region. The guide’s strength lies in its commitment to raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity in our landscapes."

Wild Ones Journal

"It’s more than a gardening guide — it’s a handbook for climate action!"    

Maine Organic Farmer & Gardner

"Seldom is there a reference that is so delightful to peruse. It gives even a beginning naturalist a sense of hope, a feeling that even a simple gardener can do something both meaningful and beautiful for their gardens, for their garden’s pollinators, and ultimately, for their whole community."

Olivia Messinger Carril

"This book has it all—sample garden plans, beautiful illustrations and photographs, a comprehensive section profiling native plants and the specific pollinators the plants support, answers to common pollinator gardening questions, and a discussion about the critical link between native plants and pollinators…gardeners will treasure this extremely informative book."

Pollinator Conservationist and author of "Bees: Heather Holm

"A glorious manifesto... Profusely illustrated, it highlights dozens of pollinator-worthy flowering plants for home and community gardens. An encyclopedic but highly accessible book that belongs with every gardener and naturalist."

author of "What a Bee Knows" and "The Reason for F Stephen Buchmann

"What a valuable, comprehensive, timely, and beautiful resource! Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla provide the rationale, urgency, and detailed know-how for restoring essential pollinator habitats. Just a fantastic contribution!"
 

author of "Bringing Nature Home" Douglas Tallamy

"Seldom is there a reference that is so delightful to peruse. It gives even a beginning naturalist a sense of hope, a feeling that even a simple gardener can do something both meaningful and beautiful for their gardens, for their garden’s pollinators, and ultimately, for their whole community."

co-author of "The Bees in Your Backyard" Olivia Messinger Carril