Stop swatting away bees! We need them for survival.

Bees are one of the most important beneficial insects known to man. Did you know that pollinators such as honey bees, hummingbirds, bats and butterflies, help to produce over 1/3 of the world's crops? With their help, we can produce and eat the best tasting fruits, vegetables and flowers.

There are many types of plants to grow in the garden that are pollinator-friendly. If interested in beginning a pollinator-friendly garden, gardeners will need to choose plants rich in pollen and nectar. Consider growing these pollinating flowers now:

• Wildflowers
• Coneflower
• Butterfly Buses
• Cow parsnip
• Dahlia
• Daisy
• Lavender
• Marigolds
• Milkweed
• Sunflowers

Some of these plants are not only beneficial to honey bees but are used for deer-resistance in the garden. And, of course gardeners want to keep deer away from their home gardens! Clustering them together may keep them protected from predators - but using deer fence and other deer management strategies is best for keeping deer at bay from pollinator habitats.

June is National Pollinator Month. Are you ready to plant a pollinator-friendly garden at home?