Product Listing
Creating the Ideal Pollinator Habitat
Pollinator plants play a crucial role in supporting native pollinator species, ranging from birds to bees. These plants offer essential resources such as pollen and nectar, which are vital for the survival and reproduction of pollinators. Additionally many of these plants provide habitat and nesting sites, creating a conducive environment for these species to thrive.
By incorporating and cultivating pollinator-friendly plants, we can help sustain biodiversity and promote a healthy ecosystem.
Designing a Pollinator Garden
1. Select a variety of flowering native plants - Including a variety of shapes, colors, blooming period, and height will ensure there are food sources for a wide range of pollinators. All of Stock's wildlfower mixes are designed with this in mind.
2. Include Milkweed. the host plant for Monarch Butterflies - Common Milkweed, the ONLY host plant for the Monarch Caterpillar also provides pollen to a wide range of native bees!
3. Incorporate native grasses to provide nesting sites and winter habitat - Hollow-stemmed plants like grasses and coneflowers provide valuable nesting for bees. The bunchgrasses also provide nesting material in the form of thatch for bird species and ground-nesting pollinators.
4. For additional benefit be sure to includ dry wood, sand, and a fresh water source - Dry wood, sand, leaf litter, and loose sil will attract ground-nesting and burrowing bee species - especially in the fall and winter months. A water source, such as a shallow dish or bird bath can provide a much-needed water source in the urban landscape.
Certified Nebraska Pollinator Habitat
Native pollinators and beneficial bugs play a critical role in our world. From helping pollinate food crops to pest predation, we rely on a large diversity of bees, flies, wasps, beetles, spiders and many others. With the increase in pesticide use and urban/rural development, the native prairie grassland of our region and the animals that rely on it are steadily decreasing.
The University of Nebraska Extension Certified Pollinator Habitat Program was established to provide pockets and fields of beneficial habitat to support native insects and other bugs through season-long bloom availability, nesting areas and landscape practices that benefit and improve populations.
To learn more and to access an application, including native plant lists, visit the Nebraska Extension website. Join more than 200 locations across the state of Nebraska in support of native plants and pollinators!
Honey Bees
Honey bees and other species like bumblebees and leafcutter bees are crucial for pollinating flowers and crops from spring to fall. According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bee Lab, in North America, there are around 3,500 bee species, which pollinate 95 crops valued at over $20 billion annually. Additionally, honey bee colonies produce more than $200 million worth of honey each year, contributing significantly to the agricultural economy. Our Honey Buster Mix was designed with this in mind.
Stock’s Recommended Mixes:
• Stock’s Pollinator Mix (All Native!)
• Honey Buster Mix (New!)
• Bee Lawn Mix (New!)
• Bit O’ Prairie Native Mix (All Native!)
• Urban Meadow (New!)
• Prairie 3 Plus Mix (Great for Habitat!)