Bee stings in the garden are rare. Bees are much more interested in working and sting only as a defense mechanism.

Pollinator gardens are the new buzzword for the old concept of planting to attract butterflies, bees, birds and other animals that pollinate plants.

Pollinators are important because the plants they tend to provide more than one-third of the world’s food supply, and over the last several years pollinator populations have declined because of loss of habitat and a number of other factors.

This spring, consider adding food and habitat-providing plants for the birds, bees, butterflies, bats, beetles and other pollinators that make the world go round.

Your favorite local garden center may be the best and easiest place to start when looking for plants suitable for pollinator gardens. If they have limited knowledge or plant selection for pollinators, try another garden center.

With the growing interest in pollinator gardens, more and more garden centers are carrying suitable native plants. Labeling is also getting better. Nearby in Missouri, the nonprofit Grow Native! Program has started two marketing initiatives, Monarch Cafe and Pollinator Buffet, to help consumers recognize ideal pollinator garden plants.

There are a number of online and printed resources for planning and planting pollinator gardens also, but use caution because of geographical differences in plant availability and suitability. The best plants for pollinators in this area are from this area. Ideally they were even propagated or the seed was collected from plants within the region.

Also, be a little cautious about non-native plants being promoted as pollinator-friendly. Tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, is one plant that has been widely sold and distributed across the U.S. because it has a beautiful flower and is easier to propagate than some of the native milkweeds. It is native to Mexico. In parts of the southern U.S., the plant is considered problematic because it interferes with migration patterns and can lead to disease. Native milkweeds are simply a better choice.

Monarch Watch (headquartered here in Lawrence), Grow Native!, Pollinator Partnership and the National Pollinator Garden Network are good resources to get started.

Plant a few milkweeds this year, or some wild blue indigo or wild hydrangea, and add more next year. Eventually, if you have the space and interest, your pollinator garden can support a wide variety of pollinator types over the course of the year. You can also have different areas of your yard devoted to different species, such as a butterfly area, a hummingbird area and a honeybee area.

Sometimes gardeners worry about attracting bees to their garden because of the fear of getting stung. Although bee stings are always a concern, stings in the garden are rare. Bees are much more interested in working and sting only as a defense mechanism.

— Jennifer Smith is a former horticulture extension agent for K-State Research and Extension and horticulturist for Lawrence Parks and Recreation. She is the host of “The Garden Show.” Send your gardening questions and feedback to features@ljworld.com.