Virginia is currently working on putting forth a plan to manage for all pollinators.  This effort is a follow up to the Managed Pollinator Protection Plan that laid out a framework to reduce the risk of pesticide exposure to managed pollinators like honey bees, bumble bees, alfalfa leaf cutter bees and other commercially managed species.  This strategy involves many of the state agencies that are already doing work that focuses on benefiting pollinators.  Here is a list of some of those efforts.  Check back periodically for updates.  Enjoy!

We encourage the planting and maintenance of native plants that are adapted to the region and may benefit some of our native pollinators as well as our managed pollinators.  The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality hosts a site called plant Virginia Natives.

Plant Virginia Natives: https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/

Want to learn what trees are in bloom? Check out the Virginia Department of Forestry’s excellent guide.

Common Native Trees of Virginia: http://www.dof.virginia.gov/infopubs/Native-Tree-ID_2016_pub.pdf

VA DOF also makes a great guide for shrubs and vines .

Common Native Shrubs and Vines of Virginia: http://www.dof.virginia.gov/infopubs/Native-Shrub-ID_2016_pub.pdf

Want to plant some Native hard wood trees? Check out this guide from VA DOF.

Hardwood Planting Guide: http://www.dof.virginia.gov/infopubs/Hardwood-Planting-Guide_pub.pdf

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation hosts the Virginia Natural Heritage Program as well as the Native Plant Finder database and the Flora of Virginia for those of us who enjoy having access to identification keys.

Natural Heritage: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/

Native Plant Finder: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/np

Flora of Virginia: http://floraofvirginia.org/