Event at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden teaches gardeners how to attract pollinators

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden held an event on Sunday for gardeners to learn about spring planting techniques and how to attract pollinators.

On Sunday, Feb. 23, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden held its Spring Planting for Pollinators event which taught gardeners about spring planting techniques, what flowers will attract pollinators, host plants and how to make an attractive spring garden.

Attendees were able to take home a spring blooming native plant, a variety of native seeds and handouts on gardening and pollinators.

Entomologist Clara Aus gave attendees helpful tips for spring gardening and how to attract pollinators at Sunday's event.

Aus said people should have host plants and nectar plants in their gardens, as butterflies or moths can eat a host plant as a caterpillar and metamorphosis into its adult form. A nectar plant then provides food for adult butterflies.

"If you have both of these things, then you'll have the whole life cycle in your garden," Aus said.

Aus also said people should try not to plant invasive species in their gardens as it can attract harmful insects and disrupt the local ecosystem.