May 2026 - Bees & Butterflies Planter

Reading Time with the Queens
May 13
2 min read

Miss Barb here! Can you bee-lieve it is already almost summer?!

Here in Southeast Idaho, the weather is pretty un-bee-lievable sometimes. We have spring, but it is interrupted by a dozen short winters. By the time summer flies in, there isn't much time for planting!

All the same, the bees really appreciate the flowers. (Not just the bees! All pollinators are welcome!) Bees need these colorful beauties to harvest nectar for honey and to feed their family. In the process, they spread pollen to grow more flowers in the future! That's why this month we are doing a project that I've always wanted to do: planting flowers!

🐝 Bees & Butterflies Planter 🐝

Supply List

🌼 Plastic flower pot (be sure to pop out the drain holes)

🌼 Potting soil

🌼 Small spade or cup

🌼 Jug of water

🌼 A flower or vegetable plant (you can use seeds, but in this example, I'll show you how to pot a "starter")

Step 1:

Add some soil to the pot, but don't fill it all the way! Use your fingers to dig a little well (hole) in the soil.

Step 2:

Gently pull the starter plant from the container. It’s best if the container soil is wet before doing this. Place the root ball (the clump of soil attached to the plant) into the hole.

Step 3:

Hold the plant with one hand, then use your other hand to pat down the soil to close the hole. (You can also work together with a friend or adult!) Water the plant, then continue patting down the soil. Add a bit more soil as the water compresses the soil down.

This is the variety of flower I used. (Portulaca) They are one of my favorite because there are so many different colors on each plant, kind of like a rainbow! 🌈 😊

Enjoy your flower! Keep it moist by watering a little bit every day. Try to keep it out of direct hot afternoon sunlight, it’ll be much happier that way!

And of course, keep an eye out for any 🐝 busy bee visitors!

Just so you know... if you attend our Bees?! program this Saturday, you'll get this awesome bee plant stake to put in your flower pot! Maybe it'll help the bees know that you are hoping they'll stop by!