A pollinator garden starts with knowing the place

A garden plan should begin with the conditions of its own site. A list from another region is a research starting point, not a ready-made shopping list.
Butterflies: nectar flowers and caterpillar host plants

A flower visited by an adult butterfly tells only part of its life story. Caterpillars may depend on a different set of plants.
Native plants: match the species to the conditions

A plant being native to a country does not mean it will grow equally well in every garden or container there. Location is only one part of suitability.
Flowers through the year: make a seasonal record

One colourful afternoon does not describe an entire flowering season. Repeated observations can turn an attractive scene into a useful learning record.
Watching flower visitors: record the method too

A visitor landing on a flower gives you a behaviour to record. It does not automatically prove successful pollination.
