Yellow rattle is one of our top planting suggestions for September 🪇 This often overlooked plant is a key part of wildflower habitats. It is perfect for long-tongued bumblebees such as the Garden bumblebee, Common carder bumblebee and even the rare Shrill carder bumblebee (as seen here). It also helps other wildflowers grow for shorter-tongued bumblebees. ℹ️ It’s easy to grow. Scatter, tread—but don’t cover—the seed into bare soil. To prepare the area, just use a rake to scrape back the surface

Sad news to report: 1 in 4 native bee species is at risk of extinction, like the Western bumblebee whose populations are rapidly declining. Native bees are threatened from habitat loss, climate change, invasive and nonnative species, and especially pesticides. The decline of this once-common native bee is alarming and heartbreaking — and a harbinger of massive biodiversity loss across the country. It's #WorldBeeDay, so take a moment to learn more about native bees, including the Western bumblebe