Pollinator Pals Education Foundation

10/19/2026

What is a pollinator?

Every plant that flowers requires pollination to reproduce – the movement of pollen from male structures (anthers) of flowers to the female structure (stigma) of the same plant species. From pollination, seeds are created and new plants grow. While some plants are wind-pollinated, many benefit from, or depend on, animal pollinators. In Pennsylvania, the main animal pollinators are bees, flies, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds. These animals feed from flowers and inadvertently move pollen grains on their bodies. (Courtesy of The Center for Pollinator Research @ PSU)

10/07/2026

🐝🦋 Meet Pennsylvania’s Pollinators!

We love our honey bees, but Pennsylvania is also home to more than 400 species of native bees! Bumble bees, mason bees, sweat bees, and many others help pollinate our gardens, farms, and wild spaces.

Butterflies, moths, flower flies, beetles, and ruby-throated hummingbirds also play a role. Together, these pollinators help plants produce the fruits and seeds that feed people and wildlife.

How can you help?

🌱 Plant native flowers. Choose a variety of native species suited to your yard. Straight species are a good starting point; some cultivated varieties, especially double flowers, offer less accessible pollen and nectar.

🌸 Keep something blooming. Include plants that flower in spring, summer, and fall so pollinators have food throughout the growing season.

🚫 Avoid insecticides when possible, especially on blooming plants where pollinators are feeding.

🍂 Leave a little shelter. Keep some fallen leaves, standing stems, and patches of undisturbed bare soil to provide nesting and overwintering habitat.

Small changes in our own backyards can help support Pennsylvania’s pollinators! 💛

What pollinators have you spotted in your garden?

09/16/2026

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08/30/2026

What a wonderful day of bee and pollinator education at Dromgold Farm!
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08/24/2026

A few months ago, we rescued a bumblebee colony from a basement in Lancaster City. We believe these are the bumblebees from that rescue! 🐝

They’ve been thriving here on our farm and seem especially happy enjoying the chicory blooming throughout our yard. 🌿

It’s so rewarding to see them settled into their new home, doing what bumblebees do best, buzzing from flower to flower and helping our little corner of Perry County thrive.

From a basement in Lancaster City to a flower-filled farm in the country… we’d say they’re doing pretty well! 🐝💜🌸

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

Our butterfly bush is the place to be today! 🦋🐝

We spotted two Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and two hummingbird moths enjoying the blooms. It's always amazing to watch these beautiful pollinators hard at work, helping flowers thrive while putting on quite a show!

Moments like these are a wonderful reminder that every pollinator, whether it's a bee, butterfly, or hummingbird moth, plays an important role in keeping our gardens and ecosystems healthy. 💛🌸

Have you noticed any pollinators visiting your flowers today?

07/30/2026

🐝 Beekeeper Joe caught some amazing footage of one of our girls collecting pollen from our Greater Burdock plant! 🌿

Watch closely during the last 15 seconds of the video—you can clearly see her pollen sacs (corbiculae). These smooth, hollowed-out areas on a worker bee's hind legs are surrounded by tiny hairs and act like natural saddlebags, allowing her to pack, shape, and safely carry pollen back to the hive to feed the colony.

07/27/2026

Perry County Bee Company restocked the store with complimentary pollinator seed packets and Pollinator Pals stickers! 🌼

Stop by, grab yours while supplies last, and help create more pollinator-friendly spaces in our community. Every patch of flowers makes a difference for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other important pollinators!

🌻 Plant. Grow. Support Pollinators. 🐝

07/27/2026

Some interesting facts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture about pollinators.
Visit www.usda.gov/pollinators to find out more!