Ever wondered why some yards have flocks of birds and loads of butterflies and bees, while others do not? It’s not just the overflowing bird feeders that are attracting those chickadees and wrens to the yard. The birds, bees and butterflies have found a wild buffet to enjoy.

You can attract more pollinators to your yard by following a few simple steps. If you don’t already have space dedicated to plants that appeal to pollinators, such as birds, butterflies and bees, you can create one. You can find entire books and websites dedicated to the subject, but there are a few simple steps that the information sources have in common.

• Assess your yard: How much space do you have? Is your yard primarily lawn? Could you remove some of the lawn to create a flower bed, plant some trees, add some shrubs?

• Remove Invasives: Get rid of invasive plants. Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website for a list of Introduced, Invasive, and Noxious Plants. You can search by state to see some of the invasive plants in your area. Once you have identified them, get to work to rid your garden of them. https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/us/delaware

•  Plant Natives: Most native pollinators require specific plants in order to grow and thrive. Monarchs, for instance, require specific food plants to lay their eggs and feed their larvae. Honeybees and butterflies need plants that produce nectar and pollen. You can search a variety of websites to find lists of plants, including https://www.thedch.org/news/no-fail-plants-attract-hummingbirds-butterflies-and-bees and https://mtcubacenter.org/

•  Add flowering plants for three seasons: Aim to have at least three different species of flowering plants in bloom from early spring to late fall. Options for spring: Eastern columbine, phlox, blue false indigo; Summer: Cardinal flower, purple coneflower, bee balm, and Virginia mountain mint; Fall, New England aster, goldenrod, and Joe Pye weed and Ironweed.

• Add trees and shrubs: Trees and shrubs provide pollen and nectar, key food sources, as well as shelter and food for caterpillars, the larval stage of moths and butterflies. One oak tree can support an astounding number of caterpillars, more than 530 species

• Add Water: Every living thing requires water to survive. If you do not have a pond or pool nearby, consider adding bird baths that will benefit bees and butterflies as well as birds.

• Reduce pesticide use: Pesticides kill beneficial insects as well as pests.