People often prioritize aesthetics when choosing plants for their gardens. They may pick flowers based on colors that create visually appealing combinations and varieties that have bigger and brighter displays or more fragrant and pleasant-smelling flowers. Some may also choose species that bloom at different times in order to maintain a colorful display throughout the growing season.
Many gardeners also strive for ecological harmony, seeking to maintain pollinator-friendly gardens that support bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. But there are some notable ways in which the preferences of humans and pollinators have the potential to diverge, with negative consequences for pollinators.
A cognitive ecologist who studies animal decision-making, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Claire Hemingway finds that understanding how pollinators learn about and choose between flowers can add a helpful perspective to garden aesthetics. Read more at The Conversation.
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