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Bees are our most important pollinators. Most are solitary bees that live independently, not the bumble bees or honey bees we are more familiar with. Bees visit flowers for the pollen or nectar, which supply the nutrients they need.

If you feel like you need a jackhammer to bust into your garden soil, you've got clay. This is a familiar garden complaint in Marin. If you want to make your clay soil more workable, you can amend it with organic material.

Be part of a wildlife corridor between islands of natural habitat. Photo: Courtesy of UC Regents Habitat gardens provide connectivity Your garden can be a place for pollinators and insects to stop and refuel as they travel through urban, suburban, and wildland areas.

Yarrow (Achillea) performs in cool coastal settings, and the flowers provide perfect landing pads for butterflies.

Alstroemeria aurea 'Saturne'. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Perennials are flowering plants that live longer than two seasons. Some are evergreen; others die back at the end of the flowering season and then regrow from the same roots the following year. Perennials are dependable and easy.

Build a great foundation of climate-conscious, Earth-friendly gardening principles and knowledge tailored to the needs, climate and conditions of gardens in Marin.

Dymondia magaretae, Wikimedia Commons Groundcovers range from ground-hugging mats to 3 or 4-foot spreading plants. They can be woody or herbaceous, evergreen or deciduous. Some grow from a single stem; others have spreading underground rhizomes that allow the plant to "creep.

If you must have a lawn, raise mower blade to 3 inches. Photo credit: Ulrike Mai from Pixabay If your power and water bills rise dramatically every summer, your garden might not be as green as it looks. Although a beautiful garden can bring joy, it can also waste energy.

Miscanthus sinensis, Wikimedia Commons Whether you want to create a naturalistic meadow, showcase a dramatic backlit border, or line a path, ornamental grasses are up for the job. Ornamental grasses and other grass-like plants like rushes and sedges are easily grown and work with many garden styles.

Got pests or other problems and want to know how to manage them? Here are some of the most frequently asked about and most common plant problems and pests in Marin.