Gardening for Pollinators and Wildlife – April 14, 2025

The colder, wetter winter that we experienced has resulted in a slow start for many of the plants that I was overwintering. Some are showing lots of new growth, while others still look like empty pots of dirt.

I’m not overly concerned about the lack of growth in those “empty” pots. Many species (unless they’ve been kept in a greenhouse) won’t break germination or start showing much new growth this early in the season. They just need consistently warmer temperatures than we’ve had so far.

We don’t have a greenhouse, because we want our plants to be in tune with the natural cycles and timing so that they can better serve their natural purposes in the ecosystem. But because of that we are at the mercy of Mother Nature to provide the necessary conditions to wake our plants up after their winter slumbers.

However, I will admit to a little bit of nagging doubt. It was a cold, wet winter and plants in pots don’t have the insulating benefits of the ground. They warm up and cool down faster. They also dry out faster during the dry periods and stay wet longer during the wet periods. It’s possible that we might have experienced significant winter losses due to those yo-yoing extremes.

If that is the case, then we’ll have fewer plants available for sale this season because I was relying on those overwintered plants surviving and now I’m outside of the window when I could start more seeds to replace them. At this point, all I can do is remind myself that it is early and try to be patient despite the spring fever and planting itch which is getting stronger every day. I go through this every year as I impatiently wait to see what comes back.

At the same time, I’m also excitedly watching the seeds that I planted this winter as they germinate and grow. Some are growing quite rapidly for this time of year and I’ve already had to transplant them up from the seed starting trays to the trays that are the next size up. Others are just starting to germinate and are still teeny tiny with more tiny seedlings popping up every day.

We have a lot of different things going on outside of the nursery this spring. So, because of that we’ve decided to just do pre-ordered deliveries this spring. (Or at least for the early part of the spring.)

Our first official pre-ordered delivery will be in late May, and I’ll provide details about it in next month’s newsletter. However, if you’re willing to work with us, feel free to email me and let me know what you are looking for. If we have it, then we can try to find a time and meeting place that works for both of us.

As you may know, we also do a lot of educational work to help others learn about native plants, pollinators and wildlife, and how to create thriving backyard ecosystems. In addition to the Backyard Ecology™ videos that Anthony publishes every week on YouTube, I’ve also relaunched the Backyard Ecology™ blog and podcast. Below are a few Backyard Ecology™ resources that I think you might find helpful.