Cornell Farm

The buzz around town is that is back! 🐝 That means you'll be hearing a lot about birds, bees, beetles, bats, and butterflies from us. These critters are essential to our gardens but also our food systems and natural habitats. So, how can we support pollinators in our everyday lives?

1. Get Educated

If you've been wanting to learn more about pollinators, here's your sign to dig in! There's SO much to learn (in a good way) and the best part is that there are tons of free resources out there to help. We've written a lot about pollinators (link in bio) and we highly recommend tuning in to the (a world-class org for invertebrate conservation, based in PDX) and Portland's own !

2. Plant for Pollinators

June is an excellent time to bulk up your pollinator garden — and we've made it easy with the return of our Pollinator Buffet at the front corner of the Patio. To be honest, though, it's hard to narrow down the choices. You'll find bees feasting all over the perennials and flowering shrubs (looking at you, California lilac!), not to mention the natives section. Follow the bees and butterflies to their favorite snacks 🦋

P.S. Enter the "Bee a Winner" challenge by for a chance to win free pollinator plants!

Visit our pollinator display and scan the QR code to enter the giveaway for a 1 gallon pollinator plant. Then, snap a photo of your favorite plant in the display and tag it for a chance to win a $500 shopping spree of Monrovia's gorgeous plants.

3. Skip the Pesticides

Everyone loves the magical sight of a butterfly, but behind those rare glimpses lies a harsh reality: insect populations are declining. Growing pollinator plants can help recover lost habitat, but that habitat needs to be pesticide-free to create a safe environment for pollinators. To control aphids and other pests, we strongly recommend manual removal (by hand or with a hose) or an application of horticultural soap or oil when pollinators are not present.

There's so much more to say, but we'll leave it here —

We need pollinators.

Pollinators need us.

Let's team up and grow a better world for all 🌎️

If the bell-shaped flowers aren't the sweetest thing you've ever seen, there's no resisting the fragrance of the Japanese snowbell. These small trees are some of our favorite late spring bloomers.

Pictured: Styrax japonicus 'Pink Chimes'