Today begins Pollinator Week, a week devoted to the plight of declining Pollinators in the United States. You can find out more at Pollinator.org, and see some neat posters and other things on offer (if they are still available).
Generally accepted wisdom is that native plants are best for pollinators. I don’t disagree. However, since I just lost many of my native hollies (while interestingly my non-natives survived the drought just fine. So much for the idea that natives are adaptable to climate change–at least in my yard!) I am kind of holding off on replanting anything right now while I see what’s what.
But of course I still want a little color for the summer.
So I have noticed that the bees are loving this purple verbena.
And of course our lawn has plenty of clover for them to enjoy as well.
They are also enjoying my flowering herbs, particularly the oregano, lavender and chives.
So yes, I still do love native plants–so long as they survive in my yard. Friday I will post about my late season garden for pollinators.
We have to try to do what we can when we can–at least I think so.
Gardendaze 
Why are natives better for pollinators? Most of our pollinators are not native anyway. I would say that pollinators, native or otherwise, are better for the native flora. Some pollinators have been distracted by exotic flowers in home gardens and landscapes.
Danged if I know. It’s a Doug Tallamy thing. Do you know him? He writes extensively on planting natives. The statistic that has always stood out to me is that oaks support 462 different species and magnolias only 30. His latest book is about oaks exclusively.
And you are right about the pollinators not being natives, or a lot of them not being natives.
I just like to think of my yard as a tiny oasis amid the pesticides. Right now, everyone around me has those yellow “pesticides just applied ” signs all over their lawns. It’s no wonder my bees and butterflies are desperate.
Karla