The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening; Attract and Support Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, Bats, and Other Pollinators

by Kim Eierman

The passion and urgency that inspired WWI and WWII Victory Gardens is needed today to meet another threat to our food supply and our environment—the steep decline of pollinators. The Pollinator Victory Garden offers practical solutions for winning the war against the demise of these essential animals.

Pollinators are critical to our food supply and responsible for the pollination of the vast majority of all flowering plants on our planet. Pollinators include not just bees but many different types of animals, including insects and mammals. Beetles, bats, birds, butterflies, moths, flies, and wasps can be pollinators.

But, many pollinators are in trouble, and the reality is that most of our landscapes have little to offer them. Our residential and commercial landscapes are filled with vast green pollinator deserts, better known as lawns. These monotonous green expanses are ecological wastelands for bees and other pollinators.

With The Pollinator Victory Garden, you can give pollinators a fighting chance. Learn how to transition your landscape into a pollinator haven by creating a habitat that includes pollinator nutrition; larval host plants for butterflies and moths; and areas for egg laying, nesting, sheltering, overwintering, resting, and warming. Find a wealth of information to support pollinators while improving the environment around you.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Plants, Science, Environment, Animals

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2020

About the author

Kim Eierman an environmental horticulturist and landscape designer specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. She is the Founder of EcoBeneficial, a horticulture consulting and communications company in Westchester County, New York. Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center, Rutgers Home Gardeners School, and advanced education classes for Master Gardeners.

An active speaker nationwide on many ecological landscaping topics, she also provides horticultural consulting and ecological design to commercial, municipal, and retail clients.

In addition to being a Certified Horticulturist through the American Society for Horticultural Science, Kim is an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional, a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center, and a member of The Ecological Landscape Alliance and the Association for Garden Communicators (GWA). Kim received the Silver Award of Achievement from the Garden Writers Association in 2014, 2015, and 2017.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A+ & recommended for everyone.

This book is absolutely loaded with useful information about plants, pollinators and ideas to help the reader make any kind of contribution to the well being of pollinators of all kinds, and, by extension, the planet. From pots to landscaping changes there's much that can be done and also very doable.

The author offers a very encouraging perspective and is not preachy or judgmental. The information is laid out in a very straightforward manner and broken down into very digestible portions. There are lots of useful lists, checklists, photos and illustrations. (As a bonus the photos and illustrations in the kindle are actually good, but are monochrome. A physical book would probably be a better choice.)

The author repeats keys points here and there but it's not annoying or used as filler. I found it helpful. The major themes are running through my head but I won't repeat them here. You can see the highlighted portions but don't substitute them for reading the book. It's an important topic and there's a lot to be done.

[Laurie Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look for ways to help win the war for the decline of our pollinators because I really need those pollinators for my vegetable garden. When I started my raised beds over 6 years ago I had tons of bees in my garden so I had a great harvest but over the past couple of years, I am lucky to see one lone bee on my vegetable flowers so I know there is something wrong.

I work in a garden center and I have increased my flowers over the past few years, I have increased in butterflies, birds and I even have some hummingbird months each year but my bees are just not increasing. I was hoping this book would help and I think it has, I have failed to add house for the bees so this is my project for this year.

This book does not give you a list of each flower that will attract each pollinator, this book is to help you make better choices. We see a pretty flower and just automatically think it will attract pollinators but they don’t. This book will help you chose better flowers that they will like, better water sources and housing sources.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic resource for how and why to create a pollinator-friendly garden. While it includes good info on pollinator species, plant options and garden design considerations, it's not too in-depth to be off-putting to people new to pollinator gardening. Nice list of resources at the end as well (other books, websites, groups, etc.).

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource to help you turn your yard into a pollinator-friendly habitat. The book features profiles of the types of pollinators and teaches you why you should want them and care about their survival -- even those less loved ones like wasps and flies, which she sells well and does show they help you, your garden and the world. She provides lists of plants for different kinds and explains about things like how to support all the life stages of the butterflies, bees, etc. that you're trying to support. There are lots of lists of what to plant and who it helps, plus great color photos. Eierman also teaches you how to make your yard a good habitat for pollinators to nest and not just eat. As a garden nut, I wish there were more photos of the flowers she suggests, but all in all this is a fantastic book that I highly recommend.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I just have to be done with this book. It’s got a whole history now, from fines to school projects. Content is good but correlation with personal life is annoying.

[Sylvia Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a joyful book! The author does alert the reader to the plight and loss of our pollinators, but then goes on to simply, clearly and lovingly show us how easy and how joyful it is to plant beautiful natives in our gardens and in our parks and on our farms, to invite the pollinators in to the pollinator party we've planned and planted for them. Gorgeous photos.

[Rachel Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid and ecologically-minded gardener, i have to say: what a great book! I love literally everything about it.

The author discusses the importance of pollinator species from bees to bats to beetles to butterflies...even birds! She lays out what sorts of plants you need to grow to attract various species and how to select plants for your geographical region such that you'll always have something blooming for hosting the pollinators. I particularly appreciated her explanation on the importance of creating habitats for winter, when the pollinators can hole up if they aren't migratory.

Lots of lovely color photos and illustrations fill the book, and the chapter pages themselves are cheerful colors. I particularly enjoyed all the images of various caterpillars and butterflies! This book feels like an exuberant gust of springtime (although i am reading it on a freezing cold December day).

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in helping the environment with pollinating insects. It's really easy to understand and talks about bee tongue lengths - come on - who doesn't want to read about that?? :)

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard a podcast interview with the author and was fascinated. No, I'm totally on the native plant team! I'm glad she included a bit about shade gardens and containers - not much, but then again most flowering plants require sun. A must read for anyone who gardens.

[Lorilei D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I read this years ago, this would have saved a lot of time learning about native plants and pollinator needs! I'm buying this for sure, it's a book I can see myself referencing as I rework the gardens.

Very accessible language and action tasks.

[Sarah Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible and inspiring. I got so many good ideas for how to improve my little garden to better help our pollinators. Can't wait for next spring!

[AcademicEditor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the bookish type, not the outdoorsy type, so the most thought I've given pollination in recent years has probably been while reading The Poisonwood Bible. Well, Nathan Price could have used this book. :)

This book is simple enough for non-experts to follow, and motivating enough to keep you inspired to do your part to help our fragile ecosystem. It helps you think through your own garden space--which species are native, which will not be helpful. etc.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a motivator to add more trees, shrubs and flowers to your yard which are food for pollinating butterflies, bees and more. While not a specific list due to the great variety of regions, it gives you the information on how to make better choices in selecting what to plant. Great inspiration!

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book that clearly takes you through the steps as to why turf lawns are pollinator deserts and what you can do to help. It's not incredibly hard to make pollinator homes. Stop using chemicals and plant pollinator-friendly plants with nectar and pollen that will keep those busy bees well fed and well hydrated. Do a little or do a lot - it's all part of the solution.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Pollinator Victory Garden is a new tutorial guide for attracting and protecting pollinators (bees, beetles, butterflies, bats, and others) in the home garden. Written by Kim Eierman and due out 7th Jan 2020, it's 160 pages and will be available in ebook and paperback formats.

This is a very well written and accessible book full of good general advice for doing what we can to support natural pollinators on our own as homeowners and gardeners. I appreciated that the author didn't primarily concentrate on the plight of domestic honeybees (which honestly are not native to most places outside of southern Europe and are thus more 'honey cows' than wild pollinators).

The book has a logical and easy to follow format. The chapters proceed logically and thematically: what pollinators are and what they do, habitat, forage/food, specific pollinators, and specific garden planning and execution. Additionally, the book includes comprehensive appendices covering plant lists, checklists, troubleshooting tips, resource and informational links, and a cross-referenced index.

There are so many books about every single facet of beekeeping and gardening (and beekeeping WITH gardening), but there aren't very many in my experience with a strong emphasis on attracting and supporting indigenous pollinators for diversity and biome health. This is a good one.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pollinators are vital to our existence. Without them the vegetables and fruits we grow well, wouldn’t. Bees and butterflies are what most people think of when it comes to pollinators but did you know that bats, wasps, flies and others can also pollinate? I knew of some but was unaware that bats were. I love when I learn new things!

This book helps you learn about all of the pollinators and what they like to eat – which is basically how to attract them. Not that all will necessarily be in your neighborhood. If you want to plant a garden to attract those that you can this book will be your guide.

Taking a cue from the Victory Gardens during WWII which were planted to save money and help feed the country while we were at war, this book urges people to plant gardens to help save the pollinators. Most of us that own our homes have a space in our yards or within our landscape designs that could be devoted to plants that would attract and feed pollinators. Bees in particular. They are just so vital to OUR survival.

It’s a well written, well laid out book with lots of tips to help even a first time gardener. It’s a book anyone who wants to help should have in their library.

[Susan Bewley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is one thing I have learned from Pollinator Victory Garden, it is that I knew very little about pollinators. Sure, I learned quite a bit from other books and biology classes, but this book taught me about a variety of pollinators that I had never even considered, such as beetles and even wasps! While we have always been very protective of our hives of local bees, I had never thought that our stream and other wildlife helped other pollinators thrive, especially bats and butterflies. After reading The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening; Attract and Support Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, Bats, and Other Pollinators, I am now putting together a list of plants that we can purchase to make our yard even more attractive for pollinators, to help our flowering trees and garden produce even more this year! If you want to learn how to protect your pollinators and make sure they are taken care of throughout the year, I highly recommend getting The Pollinator Victory Garden!

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a wealth of information about how to create a victory garden catering to pollinators of all kinds. It includes not just suggested plants for feeding, but also plants (and other garden areas) that can host the larvae and adult pollinators. There is in depth information about the different types of pollinators- it's not just bees and butterflies- as well as different garden set-ups for any amount of space you have. The focus is on using native plants- flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees, that your area's native pollinators will like best. The appendix contains a list of tips for a successful garden, a checklist to help you plan your garden, a plant list that lets you see what plant does what at a glance, and an extensive list of helpful books and websites. A great book for gardeners, from first-timers to experienced, who want their garden to be for more than just show, and would make a wonderful family project!

#ThePollinatorVictoryGarden #NetGalley

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review here.
One thing you can do while sheltering at home is planning your garden, or even start planting seeds if you haven't done so yet. (I haven't.) Your garden can serve as an important and healthy habitat for pollinators, ensuring their survival and with the benefit of great food production. This new title gives you a good idea of what to do, how to create living, nesting, and feeding spaces for everything from beetles and bees to wasps and hummingbirds. Oh, and let those dandelions flower! Eierman goes into step-by-step detail to ensure success, and also warns you away from common errors, helping to shift your gardening perspective. There's a good index, but look to more local resources for area-specific plant lists. My thanks to Quarry Books for the temporary digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Scott County Library System]

The Pollinator Victory Garden is a good beginner's guide to attracting pollinators (and not just bees). As with most gardening books, it is not one to read to cover to cover but to skim and look at charts, photos, and relevant chapters.

There are some fascinating and little-known tidbits in this book including the fact that beetles are the most numerous pollinators and that butterfly bushes are not necessarily the best choice for butterflies. (They have a lot of nectar, but are not suitable for laying eggs and raising caterpillars).

Recommended for any gardener or wannabe gardener concerned about the fate of the bees.

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been planting different garden beds for the last couple of years…and just branched into flowers this year. I was reading this book to get some insight on what kinds of flowers I would want to use. This isn’t the book I was looking for, but it was a very interesting book. It seemed like it was more for someone who would be planting lots of spaces to try and make-up for the sad state of our world as far as the insects go that we need. It was very interesting to read about the Victory Garden.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written and very useful for someone who’s thinking about starting or enlarging a pollinator garden. I like that it covers habitat requirements as well as food sources for a variety of different pollinators, not just bees and butterflies. Since it’s impossible to provide specific information for every part of the country, the author provides suggestions on where to find additional local or pollinator specific resources.

[D L · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a need to attract pollinators to your garden and provide a habitat for them to thrive. Kim Eierman's book goes a long way in helping you to achieve both of these tasks.
There is a wealth of knowledge here on how to prepare and maintain your garden for pollinators as well as some stunning photography. Great book for the conscious-minded gardener.
This book was provided by Netgally and the book publisher for an honest review.

[Patricia Hilliard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives you a wider view beyond just bird garden, bee garden or butterfly garden. It's about creating habitat for pollinators of all kinds. The book contains many useful tables with info about plants and pollinators. The best thing about this is the advice to watch out for: hybrids, double blossoms and other "fake" native stuff on the market as nurseries try to jump on the native plant bandwagon.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful resource for ways to improve the pollinating activity around your place. I like the visuals and discussion of who and what are the pollinators. I like the tips and advice given, that doesn't get overly didactic. I could see this as a great gift idea, and will definitely be used in our house. Highly recommend this book.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative and important, beautiful pictures. The only real issue is that I wish it had more for people who don't have a large, full-sun gardening spot and are on a budget. I felt it breezes by that group of people when it should have provided more information as everyone should (and can) have a pollinator victory garden to help reverse the loss of biodiversity.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great place to start!

I am a novice who is planning to replace most of our small yard with a pollinator-friendly garden. I had no idea where to start, or even what questions to ask. This book is a wonderful introduction. I read a library copy, but I will be purchasing one to keep as a reference.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are good photos and I like the concept of a victory garden as a way of joining in the effort.

However, for someone who does not know what to do, I am not sure how much this will help. A lot of this does need to be figured out locally, so there is a limit to how specific it can get, but I do still think this could have been more clear.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pollinator Victory Garden is a great resource book on how to turn your garden into a great place for pollinators of all kinds. It shows the importance that all pollinators have not just the “pretty” ones.

[Kelly Hodgkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title suggests, Kim Eierman’s The Pollinator Victory Garden is all about helping our bees, wasps, butterflies and other pollinators succeed in a world which is at war with them. So much of their environment has suffered through human actions and this book sets out to help the reader create a haven for these much needed part of the natural world.

“Pollinators are critical to our food supply and responsible for the pollination of the vast majority of all flowering plants on our planet.” - From The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman

Kim explains the Important roll pollinators play in our world and she elaborates on the characteristics of each of the kinds of pollinators and what they are looking for. She goes on to simply explain each of the threats to pollinators and the ways we can help them overcome them. She makes suggestions on plants to put into our gardens and how to create pollinator friendly landscapes.

“84% of crops grown for human consumption need pollinators to increase their yields and enhance their quality.” - From The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman

It is a fascinating read but predominantly American-orientated in plant suggestions and references. I have been working to plant a bee and butterfly friendly garden but this book expanded my understanding of the other important pollinators as well as sharing new ideas to make my bees and butterflies happier.

If you are looking for guidance for how to make your garden a pollinator haven, this is one to read! It’s a four out of five on the enJOYment scale!