05/04/2025
This is a good reminder to leave the leaf litter in your gardens a while longer for the pollinators and other insects that are hiding there! The leafy leftovers from last fall can also attract some fabulous birds. Maybe you can have your kids make a list of birds that visit to dig through the leaves!
As temps keep climbing and days get longer, you may be tempted to get your flowerbeds back in tip-top shape, but it’s not quite time yet!
Many of Wisconsin’s pollinators are still in “do not disturb” mode, snoozing away in hollow-stemmed plants and leaf litter, like this common eastern bumble bee.
Experts with the Xerces Society suggest leaving your rakes, garden gloves and yard waste bins in the shed until overnight temperatures reach 50 degrees consistently.
Instead of disturbing critical habitat, try reading a book, doing a jigsaw puzzle, doing your taxes (don’t forget to look for "Endangered resources" in the donations section!), tidying up the garage or cleaning the gutters.
While you may be eager to get outside and play in the garden, it’ll be time to toil in the soil before you know it!