Four Upcyled Garden Projects to Try for Pollinator Week
Are you ready to get crafty? We’ve compiled some of our favorite DIY projects from around the internet for you, from bee and butterfly houses to hummingbird feeders, and even a new take on the bird bath. Grab your paints, vintage finds, and scrap yarn—it’s time to create!
1. Tin Bee Hotel
Transform that old can of olives into an adorable habitat for the bugs in your garden with this tutorial from DIYS.com. You’ll need some standard craft items like googly eyes, black and yellow yarn, and acrylic paint. You’ll also incorporate raffia, tree bark, and bottle caps. Whether you make one or several, this will work wonderfully as a home, hibernation site, or resting stop.
2. Butterfly House
This project from Woodland Trust is the perfect shelter to place near your pollinator garden. It’s enclosed apart from slits in the front that mimic splits in tree bark, and butterflies can use it to protect themselves from bad weather or predators. You’ll need some woodworking skills for this one (or a friend who has them), but you’ll love painting it and making it beautiful. Try using scrap wood to make it a truly green endeavor!
3. Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder
Who doesn’t have a spare jam or jelly jar laying around? To complete this project from the Brandywine River Museum of Art, you’ll also need a sheet of thin red plastic (think school folders), twine or cording, assorted beads, and a permanent marker. The bright colors will attract hummingbirds to your yard or patio, and the homemade nectar recipe at the end of the tutorial is a snap to make.
4. Recycled Plate Bird Baths
This project from HGTV will attract more than just birds to your yard—bees, moths, and butterflies need water too! Remember to put a rock or pile of pebbles in the middle once you’re finished to make it easier for them to land. They’ll appreciate the drink, and trust us—you’ll have a blast scouring your local thrift and antique stores for painted dishes.
Want to do even more for our winged friends? Read about 10 Ways You Can Save Bees and Other Pollinators, Five Plants Georgia Pollinators Love, or How to Transform Your Outdoor Space Into Pollinator Paradise.