It's that time of year when gardens and meadows are adorned with beautiful flowers that are simply stunning to look at. If you look closely, you'll see pollinators busily moving from flower to flower in search of nectar and pollen. This symbiotic relationship between plants and pollinators is essential for the survival of both.
Pollen provides nutrients and nectar provides energy for pollinators, while flowering plants fertilize and reproduce, providing essential natural resources for animals and humans.
When you garden for pollinators, you create a rich environment in which they can thrive.
Why should we worry about pollinators?
Pollinator insect populations are declining at an alarming rate, much of it due to loss of feeding and nesting sites, climate change, invasive pests, and the misuse of chemicals and pesticides.
The loss of these organisms significantly reduces crop yields and food quality: one-third of the food humans eat is directly influenced by pollinators.
Fruits, avocados and nuts are highly dependent on pollinators.
Who are nature's pollinators?
Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, beetles, wasps, flies, and more pollinate flowers. Honeybees are the best and most efficient pollinators. They crawl deep into flowers to find nectar and are experts at collecting pollen from plant to plant. There are over 4,000 species of bees in North America, and countless species of bees native to Washington state, including the wood wasp (Bombus vosnesenskii), mason (Osmia), and leafcutter (Megachili).
Butterflies and moths have the most complex plant-pollinator relationships. They require specific host plants, such as Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus), to lay their eggs, and nectar plants as their primary food source. Preferred nectar plants include mock orange (Philadelphus) and Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum).
Butterflies pollinate flowers during the day, while moths continue to pollinate flowers that bloom at night. Butterflies that inhabit the Olympic Peninsula include the Western World Swallowtail (Vanessa cardui) and the Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), which are often confused with the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
Anna's hummingbirds (Calypte anna) and Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) are native to Washington state. Anna's hummingbirds are year-round residents, while Rufous hummingbirds are migratory birds that return in the spring. Their excellent flying skills allow them to hover deep inside tubular flowers to drink nectar.
They can also transport pollen over long distances.
Beetles are the most diverse of pollinators. Long-horned beetles (Typocerus) pollinate flowers from spring to autumn. Scarab beetles (Cantharidae) are related to fireflies. They feed on pollen and nectar and protect plants from aphids.
What are the essential elements of a garden for pollinators?
• Use native plants. The most important way to provide food for pollinators is to use native plants. Their presence provides a sustainable food source and increases pollinator numbers. Common camas (Camassia quamash), Clarkia, native honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa), and elderberry (Sambucus racemose) are some of the favorites of pollinators.
• Grow a variety of plants that flower in different seasons. Not only will you have a beautiful garden, but you'll ensure that there's plenty of nectar and pollen for early spring pollinators and available for later-emerging pollinators as well. Early spring flowers include red currant (Ribes sanguineum) and Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium). Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) and western columbine (Aquilegia Formosa) provide nutrients in late spring and early summer. Late-flowering plants like goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and Douglas aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum) provide nutrients for pollinators to eat as they prepare for winter hibernation.
• Plant flowers of different colors, shapes and sizes. Pollinators have excellent eyesight and smell, which help them find food. Bees love plants with blue or purple flowers, such as California lilac (Ceanothus). Butterflies are attracted to purple, pink, red or orange flowers. Butterflies need flat or densely packed flowers, such as black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) and coneflower (Echinacea), to land on. Moths are attracted to pale or white flowers that open in the evening and have a sweet scent. Hummingbirds prefer red flowers. While hovering, they can suck nectar from tubular flowers, such as orange honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa).
• Use repetition of flowers and colors to create clusters of flowers. It takes a lot of energy for bees and butterflies to search for nectar and pollen. To increase pollination efficiency, grow plants in large clusters. Avoid cultivated or double-flowered flowers, as they make it harder for pollinators to access pollen and nectar. Most of these flowers are sterile.
• Create a reliable water source. Water sources are essential for pollinators to survive. Examples of water sources include bird baths and shallow rock-filled dishes where bees and birds can rest safely. Muddy puddles are beneficial for butterflies, as they can extract salts and minerals they need to supplement their diet.
• Provide diverse habitat for pollinators. Litter, fallen tree branches, rocks and bare ground all provide shelter for ground-dwelling, overwintering pollinators. Vines, trellises and grasses also provide windbreaks and nesting sites.
• Above all, avoid using pesticides in your garden. They contaminate the plants and soil that bees and other pollinators use to nest. Pesticides can be toxic or cause pollinators to be unable to do their jobs effectively.
To learn more about “Gardening for Pollinators,” Master Gardeners Ed Adams, Cece Fitton and Loretta Ferguson will be speaking at Woodcock Demonstration Garden (2711 Woodcock Road) on Saturday, July 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Loretta Ferguson is .
