If you’re looking to make a big difference for your landscape and the environment, you can’t go wrong with a pollinator garden. Also known as bee or wildflower gardens, pollinator gardens bring beauty and beneficial insects to your property, creating a win-win for everyone. Getting started is easy, especially with the right landscape partner by your side. Here’s what to “bee” mindful of:

Choose the Right Site

For the greatest success, pollinator gardens are best located in a spot that gets at least partial sun and isn’t too windy. If the site currently has sod, it will need to be removed, and the soil tilled prior to planting your pollinator garden. Your landscape partner can advise on the best approach. 

Pro Tip: Aim to plant in clumps of a single type of plant. It makes it easier for pollinators to find their preferred food source.

Choose Native Plants

Not only are native plants well-adapted to your region, they’re also an important food source for pollinators. Check out the website for Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which maintains a list of native plants for each state. For year-round interest, we like to select plants that bloom in different seasons. 

Pro Tip: Beware of cultivars of native plants. Through selective breeding, these plants may have lost some of the qualities that originally made them attractive to pollinators.

Choose with Bees in Mind

According to the Xerces Society, bees are the most important group of pollinators because they spend most of their lives collecting pollen. In fact, a single female bee can visit hundreds of flowers in a single foraging trip. However, not all flowers are universally appealing. That’s because different species of bees have different tongues. Some have long tongues that work well for tubular blooms while others have short tongues that are better suited for small florets. Plant a mix of shapes and sizes to appeal to as many bee species as possible. 

Pro Tip: Save your red flowers for hummingbirds and butterflies. Bees can’t see red, but are attracted to purple, blue, white, and yellow.

Choose the Right Time to Plant

Spring is the best time to install a pollinator garden as it allows plenty of time for transplants to get established before their first winter freeze. If you live in a region with mild winters, fall planting could also be an option.

Pro Tip: It’s not uncommon for native plants to spend their first couple growing seasons establishing their root system instead of directing energy toward aboveground growth.

Choose the Right Landscape Provider

BrightView is experienced in implementing environmentally-friendly landscaping solutions—like pollinator gardens—across the country. Whether you’re looking to create unique outdoors spaces that attract top talent, promote healing, or enhance learning, our team of experts has you covered. Take the first step toward bringing your vision to life by scheduling a free consultation.

Clovers have become synonymous with Ireland, and most especially, St. Patrick’s Day. While the three-leaf clover, the shamrock, is traditionally associated with Irish culture, the elusive four-leaf clover has captured the imagination of people as a rare token of luck. Yet what is it that makes this small, green plant so special?

The Rarity of the Four-Leaf Clover

Finding a four-leaf clover is no small feat—estimates suggest that roughly only one in every 5,000 clovers has more than three leaves. Most clovers are the white clover, or Trifolium repens species, which naturally has just three leaves. However, a rare genetic mutation, or sometimes environmental factors, can result in additional leaves, making these lucky charms difficult to find. Their rarity is precisely why they are so prized. Stumbling upon one is a sign of good fortune simply because the odds are against it.

A Symbol of Good Luck

The four-leaf clover has long been associated with luck and prosperity. This belief dates back centuries and even spans multiple cultures outside of just Ireland. In ancient Celtic traditions, druids considered the four-leaf clover a powerful protective charm against evil spirits and would bring blessings to those who carried them. Legend says the four leaves represented faith, hope, love, and luck, making it an all-encompassing symbol of positivity.

The Science Behind the Luck

They may be lucky to find, but the four-leaf appearance is caused by genetics and environmental conditions. Scientists have identified a recessive gene in clover plants which sometimes lead to the development of an additional leaf. However, the exact genetic mechanism is complex, and factors such as soil composition, climate, and plant stress also have a hand in a clover producing more than three leaves. There are even cases of clovers growing even more than four leaves. In fact, the current record-breaker from the Guinness Book of World Records, which was set in Japan in 2023, is a clover with 63 leaves on it!

Shamrocks vs. Four-Leaf Clovers

It’s important to note the distinction between the shamrock and four-leaf clover, as they can often be confused with each other. The shamrock has just three leaves, and is what is seen on the tail of Irish airlines Aer Lingus and used for a lot of St. Patrick’s Day décor. According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. The four-leaf clover is a cousin, and does not have the same religious connotation and is instead revered for its rarity and association with good luck.

Find Your Own Four-Leaf Clover

If you want to try your luck at finding a four-leaf clover this St. Patrick’s Day, consider heading to a patch of clover and scanning carefully rather than going one-by-one. Many experienced finders recommend softening your gaze and looking for an odd pattern among the sea of clovers. Often, a four-leaf clover stands out due to its unique shape.

At BrightView, we understand the beauty and significance of well-maintained landscapes, where nature's wonders, such as the rare four-leaf clover, can thrive. Whether it's through expert lawn care, sustainable landscape design, or creating green spaces where people can connect with nature, we take pride in cultivating environments that bring joy and inspiration. This St. Patrick's Day, take a moment to appreciate the small, but extraordinary details in the landscape around you. You never know when you might find a bit of luck growing right at your feet!

The landscaping industry has been shaped by countless innovators, pioneers, and changemakers whose work has influenced how we design, develop, cultivate, maintain, and even appreciate outdoor spaces. Among these trailblazers is Dr. Marie Clark Taylor, a remarkable African American scientist and educator whose work in botany and plant biology has had a lasting impact on landscaping and horticulture.

Born in 1911 just five miles from Pittsburgh, Dr. Taylor received her Bachelor’s in education and Master’s in botany from Howard University before attending Fordham University in New York to obtain her Doctorate in botany. Graduating in 1941, she became the first women to earn a science doctorate from Fordham.

After serving as a staff assistant for the Army Red Cross during World War II, Dr. Taylor returned to Howard University’s Department of Botany and quickly rose through the ranks to become the department's first chair. Even while working at Howard, Dr. Taylor used grants from the National Science Foundation for summer science institutes, showing high school biology students the advantages and uses of botanical materials. Her work garnered the attention of President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s, who encouraged her to expand her institutes for teachers across the country and abroad.

On Dec. 28, 1990, Dr. Taylor died at the age of 79. However, her legacy still endures today. Howard University established a scholarship fund for women in the sciences in her honor and also named an auditorium after her.

Dr. Taylor’s contributions serve as a powerful reminder of the ways in which African Americans have enriched and elevated the landscaping and horticulture professions. Her story encourages us to recognize the often-overlooked voices and talents that have helped shape the industry and to celebrate their enduring influence.

At BrightView, we share Dr. Taylor’s passion for horticultural knowledge and fostering innovation and creativity in landscaping. Her dedication to plant science and education mirrors our commitment to sustainability, thoughtful landscape design, and cultivating vibrant green spaces as we create the best landscapes on Earth. By incorporating research-driven best practices and embracing diverse perspectives, we continue to enhance outdoor environments in ways that reflect her lasting impact on the industry.

As we honor her legacies and contributions, we are reminded of the importance of diversity and innovation, creating a more sustainable and inclusive future for landscaping. Dr. Taylor’s groundbreaking achievements underscore the connections between science, education, and the beauty of the natural world—connections that continue to inspire and guide professional across the industry.

This article was researched from Fordham Magazine’s “From High School Biology Teacher to Trailblazing Scientist: Remembering Fordham Alumna Marie Clark Taylor” and Women in Horticulture’s “Woman of Firsts: Marie Clark Taylor.”