Attracting pollinators to your garden in Victoria, BC, not only supports local biodiversity but also enhances the productivity of your vegetable and flower gardens. Here are seven effective strategies to attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators:

1. Plant Native Species: Native plants are especially attractive to local pollinators. Consider incorporating species like red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), and Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) into your garden.
2. Create Diversity: A diverse garden with a variety of flowers ensures a steady supply of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. Try to include plants that bloom at different times, from early spring to late fall, to provide continuous food sources.
3. Use Flower Shapes and Colors: Different pollinators are attracted to different types of flowers. For instance, bees are drawn to blue, purple, and yellow flowers, while hummingbirds prefer tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, and orange. Incorporating a range of flower shapes and colors can attract a variety of pollinators.
4. Establish a Water Source: A shallow water source, such as a bird bath with stones or a shallow dish, can provide essential drinking and bathing spots for pollinators. Ensure it's shallow enough to prevent drowning.
5. Provide Shelter: Pollinators need shelter to hide from predators, nest, and lay eggs. Leaving some areas of your garden a little wild, with piles of twigs, dead wood, or even a bee hotel, can offer suitable nesting sites.
6. Avoid Pesticides: Chemical pesticides can harm beneficial pollinators. Opt for organic pest control methods and only apply them as a last resort. If you must use pesticides, choose ones that are less harmful to bees and apply them in the evening when many pollinators are less active.
7. Plant in Clumps: Planting flowers in clumps rather than singly can make them more visible and attractive to pollinators. Larger groups of flowering plants are easier for pollinators to locate and provide a more efficient feeding opportunity.

By following these tips, you can create a pollinator-friendly garden in Victoria, BC, that supports the health of local ecosystems and enhances the beauty and productivity of your garden.