Native bees’ favorite spring flowers are Virginia bluebells, above, spring beauty, redbud blossoms and serviceberry.
Spring on the Mid-Shore brings a surge of color to gardens, forests, and fields — and with it, the return of essential pollinators.
As temperatures rise and early blooms appear, bees, butterflies, birds, and other species emerge to feed on nectar and pollen, playing a critical role in both natural ecosystems and agriculture across the state.
Ecologically, pollinators form the foundation of healthy food webs. The seeds and fruits they help create feed birds and mammals, while the plants they sustain provide habitat, stabilize soil, and improve water quality — especially important in regions feeding into the Chesapeake Bay.
Maryland is home to more than 400 species of native bees. Unlike European honey bees, most native bees are solitary and nest in the ground or hollow stems.
Mining bees emerge very early in spring, often seen buzzing low over lawns and woodland edges. Eastern carpenter bees are large, robust bees frequently spotted around porches and wooden structures. Bumble bees are among the first pollinators active on cool spring days.
Native bees’ favorite spring flowers are Virginia bluebells, spring beauty, redbud blossoms and serviceberry.
Several butterfly species appear in early to mid-spring in Maryland. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is one of the most recognizable, with bright yellow and black wings. The Spring Azure is a small, pale blue butterfly often found near woodland edges. Mourning cloaks overwinter as adults and may be seen on warm late-winter days.
Favorite spring flowers of butterflies are phlox, milkweed, wild geranium and dogwood blossoms.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird migrates back to Maryland in April. These tiny birds feed on tubular flowers and also consume small insects for protein.
Favorite spring flowers for hummingbirds are columbine, coral honeysuckle, cardinal flower
Spring pollinators aren’t limited to bees butterflies and birds, though. Flower flies, which resemble small bees; beetles and wasps all contribute to pollination while also controlling pest populations.
Maryland residents can do a lot to support pollinators at their home.
Choosing varieties of native plants that bloom at different times, including early spring, gives pollinators nectar and pollen throughout the season. Continuous blooms reduce “food gaps” in spring, University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center says.
Plant the same species in clumps rather than single plants spread thinly — pollinators find large floral patches more easily.
Trees, shrubs, perennials, and herbs with varying heights and flower shapes also help serve the diverse native pollinator population. Along with other plants listed, herbs like mint, sage, basil, lavender, and parsley can also feed bees and butterflies in garden beds or containers.
It might be hard to accept, but early-blooming weeds feed pollinators when other flowers haven’t opened yet.
Allowing small patches of lawn flowers like dandelions and clover to bloom before mowing provide food sources early in the season and delayed mowing until after early blooms come can help, too.
Pollinators not only need a steady food source, they need a place to call home, too. Many native bees and butterflies need undisturbed areas and structures to raise young or shelter during cold months.
Leave patches of bare soil and small piles of leaves or twigs where ground-nesting bees can burrow or insects can overwinter.
Add bee houses or bundles of hollow stems to offer cavity nesting sites for solitary bees.
Don’t rake all leaves in fall/winter, the HGIC says, many pollinators overwinter in leaf litter and plant stems, emerging in spring.
Food includes water, too. Water is essential, especially in early spring when puddles from rain may dry up quickly.
Shallow dishes of water placed thought the yard with stones or pebbles allow bees and butterflies can safely drink without drowning.
Even if you don’t have a large yard or property, you can still be a pollinator promoter. Even in tiny yards, balconies, or patios, use containers or vertical planters with pollinator-friendly vines and flowers. Growing vertical can support plants like passionflower or trumpet honeysuckle that attract hummingbirds and bees.
As Maryland landscapes awaken each spring, pollinators are already hard at work.
By understanding their role and planting with purpose, residents can ensure that these vital species continue to thrive — sustaining gardens, farms, forests, and the broader Chesapeake Bay ecosystem for generations to come.
