Jim's Garden in Indianapolis

Five years ago, Jim’s backyard had almost no bees.

His garden struggled so much that he was hand-pollinating flowers with a Q-tip.

Instead of accepting that as “normal,” Jim decided to make a change.

What started with purchasing a single honey bee hive turned into a passion for understanding all pollinators. As he learned more, he began seeing the landscape through the eyes of a bee. He noticed what was blooming, when it bloomed, how far pollinators had to travel for food, and how little habitat remained for native bees.

Growing up on a grain and livestock farm, weeds were always considered the enemy. But studying bees completely changed his perspective. He discovered that many native plants provide the food and shelter pollinators, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife desperately need.

So Jim got to work.

He removed invasive plants, cut down a Bradford pear tree, removed 16 invasive honeysuckles, and replaced them with native species including redbud, persimmon, elderberry, spicebush, pussy willow, serviceberry, red chokeberry, and native wildflowers.

Just three summers later, the results are incredible.

🐝 Dozens of native bee species now visit his garden.
🦋 Butterflies have returned.
✨ Even lightning bugs are back, making his yard feel like the summers of the 1980s again.

Jim’s story isn’t just about creating a beautiful garden. It’s proof that one person really can make a difference.

As Jim says:

“If everyone will plant at least a small patch of native wildflowers, you can be part of a movement to save our pollinators.”

Every yard matters. Every flower matters. Together, our backyards can become stepping stones that reconnect habitat for bees and other wildlife across the country.

🎥 Watch Jim’s inspiring garden transformation and see what’s possible when we garden with nature instead of against it.

🐝 Plant native.
🌼 Support pollinators.
🌎 Help restore habitat.

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