World Bee Day: Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden for You and Your Pets

Every May 20th, World Bee Day reminds us that the smallest creatures have the biggest impact. Bees pollinate roughly one-third of the food we eat, and their populations are under pressure from habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. One of the most meaningful things a pet owner can do is create a small patch of pollinator-friendly garden — beautiful for bees, safe for your pets, and genuinely good for the planet.

Why Pet Owners Make Great Pollinator Advocates

If you care enough about a living creature to commission a hand-painted portrait of them, you probably care about the world they live in too. Pet owners tend to spend more time outdoors, notice the natural world more closely, and make thoughtful choices about what goes into their homes and gardens. That makes you exactly the kind of person who can make a difference for pollinators.

Pet-Safe Plants That Bees Love

The good news: many of the best pollinator plants are also safe for dogs and cats. Here are our favorites:

• Lavender — Beloved by bees, safe for pets, and beautiful in portraits. The purple-grey tones photograph exceptionally well in natural light.
• Sunflowers — Non-toxic to dogs and cats, and a magnet for bees and butterflies. They also make a stunning backdrop for outdoor pet photos.
• Snapdragons — Safe for pets, attractive to bumblebees, and available in a range of warm colors that complement most pet coats beautifully.
• Zinnias — Easy to grow, non-toxic, and irresistible to pollinators. Plant them in a sunny spot and watch the activity.
• Herbs (basil, dill, fennel) — When allowed to flower, culinary herbs are excellent pollinator plants. Most are safe for pets in small quantities.

Plants to Avoid Around Pets

Some popular pollinator plants are toxic to dogs and cats — including foxglove, lupine, and certain varieties of salvia. Always check the ASPCA's toxic plant database before adding new plants to a garden your pets access.

A Garden That's Also a Portrait Studio

Here's a bonus: a well-planted pollinator garden is also one of the best natural backdrops for pet photography. The soft, dappled light filtering through lavender or sunflowers creates exactly the kind of warm, natural illumination our artists love to work from. If you're planning to commission a portrait, consider taking your reference photos in the garden during golden hour.