By Gary Gauthier​

There’s a special kind of magic in a backyard alive with pollinators—bees buzzing, hummingbirds darting, and butterflies pausing on sunlit leaves. With a few thoughtful choices, that vision can become a thriving, pollinator-friendly reality. Native plants are the backbone of resilient habitat. Because they’re adapted to Nanaimo’s soils and climate, they bloom at the right time for local insects and birds and support native bee larvae and butterfly caterpillars in ways exotic ornamentals cannot. They also reduce water use and maintenance, while helping rebuild habitat lost to development.

To get started, think about planting for the full growing season. Early in the year, bigleaf maple provides crucial nectar just when pollinators emerge. With that foundation in place, you can focus your garden on spring to early summer bloomers such as flowering currant and mock orange, both excellent for native pollinators.

As the season warms, native lupine and Oregon grape offer long lasting flowers and pollen. Then, to carry your garden into late summer, consider often overlooked species like salal or elderberry. These shrubs and groundcovers add structure, food, and shelter when resources can run low.

Beyond plant choice, a few simple habitat features make a big difference. First, avoid pesticides—even low doses harm bees, butterflies, and the soil microbes that help plants thrive. Next, provide shallow water dishes, leave a few bare patches of soil for ground nesting bees, and keep small brush piles for overwintering insects. These elements complete the ecological infrastructure of a healthy backyard.

Finally, source your plants and seeds from local native plant nurseries. These growers understand our regional conditions and can recommend varieties that will thrive in Nanaimo’s unique climate.

By choosing native plants and adding a few welcoming habitat features, every backyard becomes a small but powerful refuge. If each of us adds even one native plant this spring, you can create a healthier, more vibrant Nanaimo for the pollinators who share our home.