Your pollinator photos were a delight! Y'all got skillz! Thank you to everyone who submitted photos for Pollinator Week at Painters. Check out the collage of submissions from customers and Painters staff below!

We love to see the whole spectrum of plants that provide resources for our pollinator friends, and when you think about all the kinds of different pollinators out there, it’s kind of amazing!! We adore all the flamboyant butterflies and pollen-laden bumbles! And don’t forget about the smaller native bees (Did you know that North Carolina is home to over 500 species of native bees?!), lesser known or appreciated pollinators like flies, beetles and wasps, moths and bats that mostly pollinate under cover of darkness, and hummingbirds!

The winner of our Pollinator Pic Drawing (from the customer submissions) was Amber from neighboring farm and local business Inspira Homestead!!!

Amber's photo is of a beautiful Red-spotted Purple butterfly on Painters pollinator favorite Anise Hyssop. She will be taking home a flat of Owen family best-loved pollinator plants including: Joe Pye, Culver’s Root, Mountain Mint, Wild Bergamot, Hoary Vervain, and Mexican Sunflower (because she already has Anise Hyssop, we switched it out for our favorite annual pollinator plant). Each of these 6 plants are easy to grow, adaptable to a range of soils, and appreciate full sun. We highly recommend them all for your own pollinator spaces!

Did you know you can create a certified pollinator habitat even with a few patio planters? Check out BeeCityUSA's certification here - it's easy, and putting up a sign is a great way to show your dedication and encourage neighbors to join in!

And now for the real heroes: Hip Hip Hooray for Pollinators!

Note: Plants native to our general region are in bold. Let us know if you have any corrections or additions to our insect I.D. - we are not entomologists, just enthusiasts!