Northern Lakes and Forests is a glaciated border region across the US and Canada characterized by mixed forests, numerous clear glacial lakes, nutrient-poor glacial soils, and economic activities including forestry, recreation, and iron ore mining.
Zone
Interior
Common Name
Northern Lakes and Forests
CEC Level III Code
5.2.1
CEC Level II Code
5.2 Mixed Wood Shield
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Northern Lakes and Forests, CEC 5.2.1, Northern Lakes & Forests |
| Geographic Range | This ecoregion sits astride the US-Canada border, encompassing southeast Manitoba, southwest Ontario, northeastern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. |
| Climate Snapshot | The Northern Lakes and Forests ecoregion has a severe, mid-latitude, humid continental climate with warm summers and severe winters, an average annual temperature of 2°C to 6°C, and an average annual precipitation of 768 mm. |
| Terrain Profile | The terrain is varied, featuring glaciated, irregular plains, undulating morainal plains and hills, broad lacustrine basins, and extensive sandy outwash plains, predominantly underlain by Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks. |
| Vegetation Cover | The vegetation is characterized by mostly coniferous and northern hardwood forests, including species like sugar maple, white pine, red pine, and white spruce. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The Northern Lakes and Forests region is rich in wildlife, including large mammals like moose and black bear, predators such as the gray wolf and lynx, various birds including the bald eagle and common loon, and fish like walleye and brook trout. |
Eco snapshot
The vegetation is characterized by mostly coniferous and northern hardwood forests, including species like sugar maple, white pine, red pine, and white spruce.
The Northern Lakes and Forests region is rich in wildlife, including large mammals like moose and black bear, predators such as the gray wolf and lynx, various birds including the bald eagle and common loon, and fish like walleye and brook trout.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter / early spring | Early nectar and pollen; safe places to emerge | Plant/plan for early bloomers; leave some leaf litter and stems until warmer weather is settled |
| Spring | A steady ramp-up of blooms; nesting sites | Add spring flowers and shrubs; keep a small patch of undisturbed soil; avoid pesticide use |
| Summer | Continuous flowers; water; shade/shelter during heat | Plant a diverse mix; include shallow water (pebbles in a dish); keep blooms coming in sun and part-shade |
| Late summer / fall | High-energy nectar; last-chance pollen; overwintering prep | Prioritize late bloomers; avoid heavy fall cleanup; leave seedheads and stems where safe |
| Winter | Shelter for overwintering insects and next year’s habitat | Leave stems/leaf litter in a “messy corner”; plan next season’s bloom sequence |
Seed mix concept
Early bloomers (including early-flowering shrubs where space allows) to support emerging pollinators.
Dependable mid-season flowers that carry the garden through peak activity.
Late-season nectar and pollen plants (often asters and goldenrods) to help pollinators prepare for winter.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Alders are fast-growing trees in the genus Alnus that are especially useful in damp spots and along edges where you want quick cover and early-season pollen for insects.
Asters are late-season wildflowers that bring a burst of daisy-like blooms when many gardens are winding down, making them a reliable choice for pollinator-friendly planting.
Birches are graceful trees in the genus Betula, known for their often light-colored bark and early-season pollen and catkins that support springtime insects.
Blueberries and huckleberries (genus Vaccinium) are berry-producing shrubs with spring flowers that can support pollinators and later feed people and wildlife—great for gardens, schoolyards, and even large containers.
Clovers are small, easygoing plants in the genus Trifolium that can add nectar and pollen to gardens, lawns, and pots while helping cover bare soil.
Fireweed is a tough, fast-growing wildflower in the genus Chamerion that brings bright pink blooms and lots of pollinator activity to sunny, open spaces.
Fleabanes (genus Erigeron) are easygoing wildflowers with daisy-like blooms that can brighten gardens, schoolyards, and balcony pots while offering steady nectar and pollen for many small pollinators.
Goldenrods are tough, sunny wildflowers in the genus Solidago that light up late-season gardens with golden blooms and provide reliable nectar and pollen when many other flowers are fading.
Kinnikinnick is a tough, low-growing evergreen groundcover in the genus Arctostaphylos (often called bearberry) that forms a tidy mat and offers small spring flowers followed by red berries.
Manzanitas are tough, beautiful western shrubs with urn-shaped flowers that can feed early-season pollinators and evergreen leaves that keep gardens looking good year-round.
Poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods (genus Populus) are fast-growing trees best known for their fluttering leaves and soft “cottony” seeds. They can support early-season pollinators with spring catkins, but they’re also big, thirsty, and often short-lived in small yards—so they’re best chosen with space and roots in mind.
Rushes are tough, grass-like wetland plants (genus Juncus) that thrive in damp soil and help create calm, sheltered habitat at the edges of ponds, rain gardens, and low spots.
Sedges (genus Carex) are grass-like plants that form tidy clumps and thrive in many garden conditions, especially where soil stays a bit damp. They add texture, cover bare ground, and can support small wildlife by providing shelter and nesting material.
Willowherbs (genus Epilobium) are easygoing wildflowers that pop up in sunny, open spots and offer simple, nectar-rich blooms that many small pollinators can use.
Willows are fast-growing trees and shrubs in the genus Salix that offer some of the earliest pollen and nectar of the year, making them a strong choice for pollinator-friendly yards, parks, and school grounds.
Yarrow is a tough, easygoing wildflower that brings long-lasting blooms and steady pollinator visits to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Many visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while also playing important roles in local food webs.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
Adults can help move pollen as they nectar at flowers, and their caterpillars are an important part of local food webs.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and can help move pollen between blooms as they feed.
