Planting for Specialist Pollinators

Specialist pollinators need our help more than ever. While generalist bees and butterflies can use a wide range of plants, many caterpillars, bees, and other insects rely on very specific native species for food, shelter, and reproduction. When those plants disappear from our landscapes, the pollinators that depend on them disappear as well. In this class, you’ll learn how to make a meaningful difference right in your own backyard. Discover the essential trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that support specialist pollinators—and how even small additions to your garden can create vital habitat. Instructor Leah Brooks will introduce a diverse selection of native perennials and highlight the remarkable relationships between these plants and the specialist species that rely on them for survival. The class includes a guided garden walk with Leah, where you’ll see these plants in person and observe how they function in a living landscape. Leave inspired, informed, and ready to support specialist pollinators through thoughtful, impactful plant choices. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Online-only attendance is also available for this class, click here to learn more and to register. 🥬 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available About the Instructor: Leah Brooks is the Marketing Coordinator at Mt. Cuba. She has dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware in Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology. She is a Delaware Master Naturalist and Vice Chair of the Delaware Invasive Species Council. She’s an avid contributor to the Delaware Native Plant Identification and Exchange group on Facebook. Her passion is sharing the joy of nature and native gardening with others. REGISTER NOW: General Public Individual+ & Dual+ Members Supporter, Advocate & Conservator Members