The Birds, the Bees and the Blooms of Fall

Birds and bees, plus hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and other insects play a key role in the reproduction of plants.

Pollinators are the unsung heroes of plant reproduction. As they flit from flower to flower collecting nectar, they move pollen around, helping plants produce seeds. Some pollinators are picky eaters, sticking to specific native plants, while others are happy to eat from what’s in bloom.

In the fall, pollinator’s work is especially important because they help ensure plants can flower again next season. This is vital for a healthy, diverse ecosystem that benefits both wildlife and people.

Pollinators in the fall

As fall approaches, many flowers have finished blooming, making it a challenge for pollinators to find enough food before hibernation or migration before winter. That’s why late-blooming plants like asters and goldenrods are so important. They play a key role in providing nectar for pollinators in late summer and fall, when most other plants are done flowering. They also serve as hosts for insect larvae and provide seeds for foraging birds during late fall and winter.

Spotting Asters and Goldenrods

Asters and goldenrods are vibrant flowers that provide pops of colour to the landscape as early as July and continue through October. They belong to the large plant family known as the aster or daisy family. Their flowers are composite, meaning they have clusters of small flowers that look like one big flower. Identifying these plants can be tricky because there are many species.

Asters

Asters are perennial plants with flowers in shades of white, blue or purple. The name comes from the Ancient Greek word for “star,” referring to their star-shaped blooms. In the Credit River Watershed, you might spot New England asters, calico asters and Eastern panicled asters.

Goldenrods

Goldenrods are also perennial plants, known for their clusters of small yellow, and sometimes white, flowers. Most belong to the genus Solidago, which means “to make whole” in Latin, a nod to their traditional healing properties. In the Credit River Watershed, common goldenrod species include eastern tall goldenrod, zigzag goldenrod and blue-stemmed goldenrod.

Asters and Goldenrods in the Credit River Watershed

In the Credit River Watershed, we’re lucky to have 20 aster species and 16 goldenrod species. These plants aren’t just pretty; they’re essential. Pollinators depend on them for food and they help keep our ecosystems healthy and diverse. That’s why we’re always happy to spot asters and goldenrods during our forest and wetland monitoring. Their presence signals a thriving ecosystem. We monitor these and many other plant and wildlife species as part of our Integrated Watershed Monitoring Program (IWMP).

Share your pollinator and fall bloom photos with us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

By Emily Stacy, Technician, Watershed Monitoring

• Insects
• Integrated Watershed Monitoring Program
• Nature and Wildlife
• Watershed Science