Spring arrived last week with a glimmer of hope for one of our most iconic summer guests. On March 17, data was released revealing a 65% increase in Eastern Monarch populations at their overwintering sites in Mexico. While this positive bump is good reason to celebrate, it is important to consider the numbers in the context of the overall sobering story.

The Eastern Monarch population has declined more than 80% overall since 1990 and is still less than half of what scientists say is needed to keep the migrating population — the very one that summers in our own backyards — sustainable.

Federal endangered species protections for the Monarch have been stalled by red tape since 2020. But ultimately the real “cavalry” isn't coming from Washington — it’s coming from grassroots efforts in local communities — just like ours.

Why the buzz matters

While the iconic orange-and-black Monarch butterfly has charmed us for generations, they are just one member of a massive, essential “unseen workforce.” Pollinators are the animals that transfer pollen between flowers, allowing plants to produce the fruits, seeds, and nuts that feed both humans and wildlife.

In Rhode Island, this diverse cast includes more than 250 species of native bees — like the fuzzy Bumblebee and the solitary Mason bee — along with wasps, flower flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, and even the beloved Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Despite the common misconception that “bugs” are pests, over 95% of our local insects are helpful allies that maintain natural food webs and provide chemical-free pest control.

However, the “buzz” is fading. Biologists are sounding the alarm as pollinator populations dwindle right in our own neighborhoods. In the Northeast, more than 25% of our bumblebees are now at risk of extinction. In just 20 years, we have lost more than 20% of our butterflies, and our fireflies are slowly vanishing from our summer night skies.

These alarming trends are a direct threat to the healthy ecosystems we depend on, but because more than 90% of Rhode Island land is privately owned, the power to reverse this decline sits squarely with all of us.

Start outside your door

A thriving pollinator habitat isn’t just a collection of flowers — it’s a four-season lifeline. To move beyond the ‘biological deserts’ of traditional landscaping, follow these steps to transform your property into a vital ecological refuge:

• Shrink the Lawn: Lawns may look green, but they don’t offer much to wildlife and often depend on chemicals that harm helpful insects. Swapping out even a small patch of grass for plants can make a real difference.
• Go Native: Use plants that belong here belong for a reason. Native species are used to Rhode Island’s soil and weather — and they provide exactly the food local insects and birds are looking for.
• Plant a Bloom Buffet: Include diverse and abundant flowering plants with varied shapes and colors. A diverse palette ensures you attract a diverse crowd.
• Plant in ‘Drifts’: Avoid the “one of everything” approach. Plant at least 3 to 5 of the same species in a cluster, or “drift.” This creates a bold visual signal that pollinators can spot from a distance, allowing them to forage efficiently without wasting energy.
• Keep Something Blooming All Season: Try to have flowers blooming from early spring through fall. Early blooms help pollinators get started after winter, while late flowers give them the energy they need to migrate or prepare for colder weather.

• Think Big—and Woody: Flowers get all the attention, but trees and shrubs do a lot of heavy lifting. Native oaks, maples, and cherries support hundreds of species and provide some of the first food of the year.
• Feed the Caterpillars: Butterflies don’t just need nectar — they need places to raise their young. You can’t have butterflies without feeding caterpillars. Plant larval hosts like Milkweed for Monarchs and Golden Alexanders for Black Swallowtails. Embrace the chewed leaves; they are a badge of honor and a sign your garden is working.

• Skip the Chemicals: Pesticides, herbicides, and mosquito sprays don’t pick sides. They kill pollinators and helpful insects along with the pests, upsetting the balance of your yard’s ecosystem.
• Save a Snag: If it’s safe, leave dead branches or trunks standing. What looks messy to us can be prime real estate for nesting bees, birds, and other wildlife.
• Leave the Leaves: Stop the conventional “fall cleanup.” Leaf litter and standing stalks are essential winter blankets for hibernating insects.
• Dim the Lights: Dark skies are pollinator skies. Turn off outdoor lights at night to help moths — our essential “night shift” pollinators — stay on track.

A sanctuary for all

The true value of a pollinator-friendly landscape stretches far beyond the wings of a butterfly. These spaces are a lifeline for our entire community – mini sanctuaries where families and pets can roam safely, free from hidden health hazards. For children, these gardens are “living laboratories” that spark wonder, boosting cognitive development and emotional well-being and fostering essential connections to the natural world.

And the benefits don’t stop at property lines. These vibrant habitats act as a cooling sponge for neighborhoods — absorbing carbon, filtering pollutants from our air, and slowing down stormwater. They are the ultimate neighborhood watch for wildlife, providing high-energy fuel for migratory songbirds and nesting sites for the owls and hawks that keep our ecosystems in balance.

From the magical glow of fireflies on a summer night to the annual arrival of a toad to the garden, these spaces prove that when we heal the land for the smallest among us, we create a healthier, more resilient East Bay for everyone.

Building connections

In pollinator gardening, connectivity plays a vital role in transforming isolated gardens into thriving ecosystems. Many bees and butterflies have limited flight ranges and struggle to cross large expanses of lawns or pavement. By creating pollinator pathways — neighborhood networks of pesticide-free gardens — you provide these insects with essential routes linking their nesting sites and food sources.

Connections between humans are also key, since pollinators don’t recognize property boundaries. A neighborhood-wide initiative — encompassing gardens, businesses, and community spaces — is necessary to establish effective pathways. As individual projects come together, they create a social network that promotes enduring conservation efforts across landscapes.

A patchwork of hope

Whether it’s a backyard in Bristol, a churchyard in Barrington, a traffic island in East Providence, or a post office garden in Warren, every square inch counts. We are knitting back together a habitat fragmented by roads, buildings and barren landscapes, one nature-rich space at a time.

When we garden for pollinators, we are planting hope for a more vibrant, buzzing, and resilient Rhode Island. Next time you step outside, look at your yard not as a chore to be tamed, but as a sanctuary to be tended. Nature is ready to return — all we need to do is welcome her back.

“Life in the Garden” brings eco-friendly garden tips from Cindy and Ed Moura of Prickly Ed’s Cactus Patch Native Plant Emporium, where they are passionate about helping people realize the essential role everyone can play in supporting life right outside their own doors.