Recommended Reading for Supporting Pollinators

Here are some recommended books to expand your knowledge of local pollinators and find inspiration for supporting them effectively.

Compelling Reads:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer – Weaves Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and personal narrative to explore humanity’s reciprocal relationship with the natural world, offering a path toward ecological restoration and reconnection.

Bringing Nature Home by Douglas Tallamy – Compelling case for native plant gardening to support local food webs and biodiversity.

Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard by Douglas Tallamy –
Follow-up to “Bringing Nature Home” that expands on the idea of creating a homegrown national park through connected natural spaces in our own yards.

Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse by Dave Goulson – Examines the decline of insect populations and solutions for reversing this trend.

Reference Books:

Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees & Butterflies by the Xerces Society – A comprehensive guide on conserving and supporting native pollinators through habitat restoration, sustainable gardening, and community action.

The Bees In Your Backyard by Joseph S. Wilson & Olivia Messinger Carril – An accessible field guide to identifying and supporting native bee species in your local environment.

Dream Plants for the Natural Garden by Piet Oudolf & Henk Gerritsen – showcases a curated selection of resilient, visually striking perennials and grasses that create naturalistic, four-season landscapes requiring minimal maintenance and providing valuable habitat for wildlife.

The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants by Neil Diboll & Hilary Cox – Comprehensive instruction for selecting, growing, and maintaining native prairie species to create beautiful, drought-resistant landscapes that support pollinators. Lots of great plant lists!

Illinois Wildflowers by Don Kurz – Field guide featuring detailed descriptions, photographs, and ecological insights on the native wildflowers of Illinois, helping readers identify and appreciate the state’s diverse plant life.

The Midwestern Native Garden by Charlotte Adelman & Bernard L. Schwartz – Provides a comprehensive guide to replacing traditional non-native plants with indigenous alternatives that support local pollinators and restore ecological balance in Midwest landscapes.

Native Plants in the Home Landscape by Keith Gerard Nowakowski (University of Illinois Extension) – Offers practical guidance for incorporating native plants into residential gardens to create sustainable, low-maintenance environments that support local ecosystems and wildlife.

Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm – An illustrated guide that explores the relationships between native plants and their pollinators, providing practical advice on creating pollinator-friendly habitats.

Prairie Up by Benjamin Vogt – A practical guide to designing and growing naturalistic, climate-resilient prairie gardens with a focus on native plants and ecological restoration.

Tiny and Wild: Build a Small-Scale Meadow Anywhere by Graham Laird Gardner – Beginner-friendly guide to creating small-scale meadows in any space, using native plants to support biodiversity and ecological health.