Birds, Bees and Butterflies: Part of the Neighborhood in Eco-Conscious Developments

Some luxury developments focus on more than pampering residents—they’re caring for the flora and fauna, too.

When the first homeowner at The Strand community in Turks and Caicos discovered a hummingbird nest with hatchlings near her front door just three months after moving in, the developers of the oceanfront residential community knew they had done something right.

“A neighbor outside of The Strand development said that they hadn’t seen a hummingbird in the area in years,” says John Fair, managing director, developer and project manager of The Strand, Turks and Caicos. “Today, the community is alive with flowering plants, butterflies, bees and birdlife, creating not just a healthier ecosystem but also a more vibrant, beautiful place to live and visit for our resort guests.”

While many new developments take a multifaceted approach to sustainability including relying on renewable energy, conserving energy and water, and landscaping with native plants, some focus on creating sanctuaries for pollinators that provide numerous benefits to the natural environment.

At The Strand, the developers worked with the Denver Butterfly Pavilion, which partners with developers early in the planning process to create pollinator districts and sanctuaries, according to Fair.

“My wife and I had an existing relationship with the Denver Butterfly Pavilion and when we learned more about their mission, we knew The Strand, Turks and Caicos was the perfect opportunity to take their concept international,” Fair says. “We were excited by the idea of weaving conservation into luxury living and hospitality, and what better way to give back to the island of Providenciales than by helping restore and protect its natural pollinators?”

The Strand features other environmentally friendly features such as smart landscape irrigation systems including grey water irrigation, and 75% of the community’s power comes from solar energy. To set up the pollinator program, the Denver Butterfly Pavilion team flew in during the pre-construction phase to assess the land and make recommendations.

“They advised our landscape contractor, Landscaping by EA, on which native, nectar-rich plants to incorporate, ensuring the property became a natural haven for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators,” Fair says. “They later returned to officially designate The Strand as a pollinator sanctuary and will continue to provide assessments and recommendations for long-term success. Because this expertise was integrated into our landscaping plan from the start, no additional staff were needed to maintain the sanctuary, and we benefited from using native plant materials which require less irrigation.”

The pollinator sanctuary is integrated throughout the 20-acre Strand property.

“Sustainability and environmental stewardship resonate strongly with our homeowners at The Strand, many of whom take pride in knowing their investment contributes to the health of the local ecosystem,” Fair says. “For The Strand, it’s not only a differentiator in the market but also a story our residents are proud to share.”

Bees and Butterflies Essential to Charleston Agrihood

Kiawah River on Johns Island in South Carolina was designed as the Charleston area’s first agrihood, so protecting pollinators was a natural fit, according to Jeff Snyder, Kiawah River's chief environmental officer.

“Johns Island has deep agricultural roots as a farming community, and bees have long been essential to both farming and the broader ecosystem,” Snyder says. “Within Kiawah River bees are essential – from the working farm and pocket gardens to manicured landscapes, flower meadows and native habitats.”

The developers of the Kiawah River community designed meadows with both nectar sources and host plants, Snyder explained.

“Nectar plants, the colorful flowers that attract bees and butterflies, fuel pollinators and support the crops residents rely on,” he says. “Host plants, meanwhile, play a more specialized role. Some butterflies will only use one particular host plant, such as monarchs and milkweed. Without these, entire species simply can’t survive. By including both, the community ensures biodiversity is not just preserved but actively supported.”

The community includes a working farm cooperative with local Johns Island farmers, pasture-raised livestock, vegetable and flower fields, and pollinator habitats.

“The wildflower meadows and preserved landscapes act as living buffers – helping to control erosion and filtering runoff before it reaches the Kiawah River estuaries,” Snyder says. “Management practices, such as leaving sections of meadows un-mowed through winter, create essential shelter for beneficial insects that will re-emerge in spring.”

The 25 beehives at Kiawah River are managed by Edisto Honey.

“On the farm, the role of bees is measurable: stronger harvests of crops like squash and strawberries, thriving flower fields, and healthier native vegetation,” Snyder says. “In turn, birds and other wildlife benefit from this abundance, creating a chain of interconnected ecological gains.”

Complementing the hives are wildflower meadows and host-plant patches that support butterflies and other pollinators.

“Some of these plants attract dozens of species, while others sustain only one,” Snyder says. “For instance, without milkweed, monarchs cannot complete their lifecycle. This delicate balance requires thoughtful land management and a willingness to let some areas look a little ‘wild’ in winter—because those brown stalks may be sheltering next spring’s butterflies.”

The impact of pollinators at Kiawah River is both immediate and far-reaching. In the meadows, pollinators spread plants naturally, creating a richer and more diverse landscape each season, Snyder says.

“At Kiawah River, bees and butterflies are more than a feature—they embody the community’s commitment to living sustainably on the sea islands,” he says. “The hives connect residents to the land, to local farmers, and to the natural cycles that sustain the broader ecosystem. From colorful meadows alive with pollinators to the brown stalks intentionally left standing through winter, every choice reflects a belief that nature should be allowed to sustain itself.”

Luxury Setting for Bees and People in Mexico

At the Four Seasons Residences Tamarindo and Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, the development team recently introduced Rancho Lola, a sustainable farm that is part of the community’s culinary and ecological program. The community, located along Mexico’s Costalegre, includes a discovery center with guided hikes and talks by biologists and conservationists, highlighting over 70 endemic species of flora and fauna, three species of birds, 16 mammals, 11 amphibians and 30 reptiles, according to the Rancho Lola team.

“The 35-acre Rancho Lola farm is central to our sustainability efforts,” according to the team. “Residents can interact with animals, tour the farm, plant trees, and enjoy farm-to-table meals.”

Rancho Lola includes pollinator habitats for bees and butterflies.

“The decision to include pollinator habitats is rooted in our commitment to environmental stewardship and the enhancement of local biodiversity,” according to the Rancho Lola team. “Bees are a natural part of this environment, and we aim to help them thrive. Developing the space involved creating a garden with specific plants, like Lipia shrubs, lantana montevidensis, cámara and amarilla, to provide food sources year-round, as well as thoughtfully integrating pathways, rocks and a pavilion to harmonize with the surrounding landscape.”

Although still in the early stages, there’s already been a positive impact from the Melipona bees, a stingless species native to the Yucatán.

“With six different species present here, these stingless honeybees are actively pollinating a wide range of native flowers within 800 meters of their nests,” according to the Rancho Lola team. “Their activity supports stronger, more diverse plant growth, which in turn provides richer habitats and food sources for birds and other wildlife. The Meliponas not only sustain the environment but also produce honey which is collected and enjoyed here at the reserve.”

With drastic losses of bee populations across North America and Europe in recent years, communities that invest in pollinator habitats set an example for others while supporting their local environment.

Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsors: Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corporation takes sustainability seriously, in both their products and their operations. Learn more about building and buying homes that are more affordable and less resource intensive.