Wildlife habitat does not exist only in rural landscapes or protected natural areas. Cities have become increasingly important places for pollinators and other wildlife. As natural habitats change and landscapes develop, many species begin relying on small pockets of habitat scattered throughout neighborhoods and communities. Urban gardens often become part of that solution.
Here in Lincoln, Nebraska, prairie landscapes and city neighborhoods sit side by side. While large natural prairie areas are rare today, gardens across the city can help recreate small pieces of that ecosystem. A garden filled with flowering plants can provide nectar, pollen, shelter, and nesting space for pollinators. Even a small patch of flowers can attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.
I see that every season in my garden near the University of Nebraska–Lincoln East Campus. A few carefully chosen plants quickly become busy with activity. Bees move from bloom to bloom, butterflies drift across the flowers, and small insects begin using the space as habitat. Moments like that remind me how much life can thrive in even the smallest garden spaces.
Why Cities Matter for Pollinators
Urban areas might seem like unlikely places for wildlife, yet many pollinators are surprisingly adaptable. Cities can support a wide range of pollinator species when gardens and green spaces provide the right resources. In some cases, urban environments support greater pollinator diversity than surrounding agricultural landscapes because gardens contain many types of flowering plants.
One of the biggest challenges facing pollinators today is habitat fragmentation. Natural prairie landscapes once stretched across vast areas of the Great Plains. Today, less than 4 percent of original tallgrass prairie remains. As those habitats were converted to agriculture and development, pollinators lost many of the continuous landscapes they once depended on.
Urban gardens help reconnect some of those fragmented spaces. Across Lincoln, backyard gardens, community plots, and neighborhood flower beds can create small pockets of habitat where pollinators find nectar and pollen. When many gardens across a city include pollinator-friendly plants, those spaces begin functioning as a network of habitat.
What Makes a Garden Wildlife-Friendly
Creating a wildlife-friendly garden often begins with a few thoughtful choices. When I think about supporting pollinators in my garden, I focus on providing the resources wildlife need most.
Diverse native plants
Native prairie plants are some of the most valuable resources for pollinators. Species like coneflowers, bee balm, prairie blazing star, and asters produce nectar and pollen that bees and butterflies depend on. Prairie ecosystems are remarkably biodiverse. A single acre of tallgrass prairie can contain hundreds of plant species, each supporting different insects and wildlife. Bringing even a few of those native plants into an urban garden can make a meaningful difference.
Shelter and nesting habitat
Many native bees do not live in hives like honeybees. About 70 percent of native bee species nest in the ground, while others nest in hollow stems or natural cavities. Leaving a few stems standing through winter or allowing small patches of bare soil can provide nesting habitat. A wildlife-friendly garden often looks a little more natural than a perfectly manicured yard, yet pollinators thrive in those spaces.
Water sources
Pollinators need water just like other animals. A shallow dish with stones or a small garden water feature provides safe access.
Small Spaces Still Matter
One of the encouraging things about pollinator gardening is that it does not require a large yard. Balconies, patios, and small backyard spaces throughout Lincoln can support pollinators. Container gardens filled with nectar-rich flowers often attract bees and butterflies quickly. Even a small planter box can become a feeding station.
I notice how pollinators move through my garden, visiting several flowers before continuing onward. Bees may stop briefly at one bloom and then move across the yard to another plant. Those movements reflect how pollinators use many small spaces across a city.
Community gardens across Lincoln also play an important role. When multiple gardeners plant pollinator-friendly flowers, those shared spaces become important feeding areas for insects. Small gardens scattered across neighborhoods can connect together into something much larger.
The Role of Pollinator Corridors
Pollinator corridors help wildlife move across landscapes. A corridor is essentially a chain of habitats that pollinators can use while traveling between feeding and nesting areas. Urban gardens often become part of these corridors.
A butterfly might move from one backyard garden to a city park, then continue to another garden several blocks away. Each stop provides food and shelter along the way. Pollinators depend on those stepping stones. In a city like Lincoln, where neighborhoods, parks, and prairie restoration areas exist side by side, gardens can help connect those habitats.
When neighbors plant pollinator-friendly flowers, individual gardens begin forming a connected network across the community. I like to imagine my garden as one small link in that larger chain.
Inspiration from the Pixel Prairie Co. Garden
My pollinator garden has become a constant source of inspiration. Watching bees gather pollen, butterflies visit flowers, and other insects explore the space has changed how I think about habitat. Small gardens can support far more wildlife than many people expect. That experience helped inspire the Plant It Forward Collection at Pixel Prairie Co. The idea behind Plant It Forward is simple. When people plant flowers, support pollinator habitat, and share awareness, those actions contribute to healthier ecosystems. Each pollinator-friendly garden becomes part of that effort.