How do I create a pollinator-friendly garden in New Brunswick?

Creating a pollinator-friendly garden in New Brunswick means planting a diversity of native flowering plants that bloom in succession from May through October, providing continuous nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators throughout the Maritime growing season. NB's native plant communities already support rich pollinator populations — your garden can extend that habitat right into your yard.

Start with native NB plants as your foundation. Wild bergamot, bee balm, New England aster, black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, and wild columbine are all native to the Maritime provinces and co-evolved with local pollinators. Native plants produce four times more pollen and nectar than non-native ornamentals, and local bee species are specifically adapted to access them. Plant in clusters of at least 3–5 of the same species — pollinators find and work large patches more efficiently than single scattered plants.

Plan for continuous bloom across the entire growing season. Early spring (May): wild columbine, Virginia bluebells, and native willows provide the first food after winter. Early summer (June–July): bee balm, wild bergamot, and lupines peak. Mid-summer (July–August): black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, and Joe-Pye weed draw monarchs and swallowtails. Fall (September–October): New England aster and goldenrod are critical — they provide the final nectar that helps bees build winter stores. Goldenrod is often blamed for allergies (that is actually ragweed) and deserves a prominent place in NB pollinator gardens.

Include plants of different heights and flower shapes to attract diverse pollinators. Tubular flowers like bee balm attract hummingbirds. Flat, open flowers like black-eyed Susan attract butterflies and short-tongued bees. Tiny clustered flowers like wild bergamot and goldenrod attract native solitary bees and beneficial wasps. Adding flowering shrubs like winterberry holly, serviceberry, and native dogwoods provides additional food sources and nesting habitat.

Avoid pesticides and herbicides entirely in your pollinator garden. Even organic insecticides like pyrethrin kill beneficial insects. Tolerate some leaf damage — a few chewed leaves mean caterpillars are feeding, and caterpillars become butterflies. Leave some bare soil patches for ground-nesting bees, which make up 70% of NB's native bee species. Leave plant stems standing through winter — many native bees overwinter in hollow stems.

A pollinator garden in New Brunswick costs $500 to $2,000 for a 100-square-foot bed using nursery-grown native plants. Look for native plant nurseries in the Maritimes rather than big-box garden centres, which typically carry cultivars bred for appearance over pollen production. Plant after the last frost — mid-May in Saint John, late May in Fredericton — and water consistently through the first summer to establish deep roots before NB's harsh winter.

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