(NC) Springtime gives us the chance to finally put away the snow shovel and enjoy the sun. And there's no better way to embrace the warm weather than planting a beautiful flower garden. Enhance the curb appeal and aesthetics of your home with these simple tips.

1. Don't be afraid to get wild. Choosing a wide variety of wild flowers doesn't just help your garden to stand out — wild flowers suited to the weather and conditions of your home province are also hardier and easier to grow. By planting a diverse selection of flowers that bloom throughout the spring and summer, you'll be providing more diverse and nutritious nectar and pollen for honey bees. Some varieties to consider include lance-leaved coreopsis, sneezeweed, New England asters, dense blazing stars and golden tickseed.

2. Bee friendly. Did you know that worker bees spend their days travelling from flower-to-flower, collecting as much pollen and nectar as they can? According to Statistics Canada, Canadian honey bee populations are on the rise, but we should still be vigilant about caring for honey bees to help them thrive. This is also its own reward, as some plants can't pollinate themselves, which means they rely on honey bees and other pollinators to grow.

3. Get the right seeds. One of the biggest challenges with gardening is choosing the right seed varieties for the conditions your space offers. Consider whether the seeds you choose love sun or shade and how much water they need to thrive. Then compare to the environment of your garden, including the amount of sun and shade the seeds will receive throughout the day.

Using a pre-packaged seed kit will make planting your pollinator-friendly garden quick and easy. Bees Matter provides free pollinator-friendly seeds that are native to Canada when you sign up at www.beesmatter.ca.

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