{"id":2837,"date":"2021-08-30T09:57:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T16:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/?p=2837"},"modified":"2021-08-30T09:57:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T16:57:00","slug":"havens-for-beneficial-bugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/2021\/08\/havens-for-beneficial-bugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Havens For Beneficial Bugs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Bees are beautiful<\/p>\n

<\/a>Nurturing pollinators yard by yard<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite dire daily news about climate change and ecological destruction, I\u2019m heartened to observe increasing interest in protecting and nurturing pollinators. Cute, fuzzy honeybees still get the most media attention, but there\u2019s more understanding that thousands of species of native bees and other pollinators are also dwindling. Researchers report that hundreds of important pollinators are struggling, from bees to bats, birds, butterflies, and more (mosquitoes pollinate bog orchids, who knew?). Those \u201cimportant\u201d species aren\u2019t just those with immediate impacts on humans; it\u2019s been amply demonstrated that the loss of any single species of any kind adversely affects at least 30 others in their interconnected foodweb. That said, it\u2019s probably easiest for gardeners to relate to the loss of bees, our most obvious natural allies. When our gardens attract and host beneficial insects of many kinds, both gardens and critters thrive. When we make our gardens into havens for those tiny helpers, we reap benefits from better food production to healthier plants, since many beneficial bugs and birds feast on bothersome garden pests.<\/p>\n

The single most important way to create a safe haven is to make sure that no toxic pesticides (including herbicides) are used on your land. If neighbors persist in using chem-lawn services (however \u201cgreen\u201d the name), ask them for safety paperwork for each chemical used on their property, as wind may cause chemical drifting that\u2019s just as deadly as a direct application. On your own land, find places that can become \u201cbug banks\u201d, protected zones where native plants, certain \u201cweeds\u201d, and garden escapees will provide food and shelter for an astonishingly wide range of critters. Such hospitable safety zones can be as small as an untended strip between neighboring properties, behind the chicken coop, along a woodland edge, or in any out of the way place where it won\u2019t offend the eye of the tidy minded. The nearer such areas are to orchards and vegetable beds, the better they will serve both you and the pollinators.<\/p>\n

Banking With West Coast Natives<\/strong><\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, native pollinators largely prefer native plants, especially specialist bees which restrict their foraging to specific families. Like honeybees, other native pollinators are generalists, happy to feast on garden plants from pretty much anywhere in the world. Early bloomers will lure in numerous insects, including Mason bees, small but mighty, and more efficient pollinators than European honeybees. To get the full benefit of local pollinators, stock your bug bank with huckleberries, Indian plum (Oemleria), flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), native rhododendrons, and various species of Oregon grape (Mahonia), often the first and longest to bloom. All these shrubs can be blended into ornamental borders and woodland gardens, sharing space with garden imports from camellias to hydrangeas. Native violets, creeping veronica, foamflower (Tiarella), Mother of thousands (Tolmia), and fringe cup (Tellima) are often volunteers that are commonly weeded out if unrecognized as valuable and pretty natives with a pollinator following of their own.<\/p>\n

Eradication is also the usual fate of \u201cweedy weeds,\u201d which are far more appreciated by insects and other critters than by control-oriented gardeners. The bug bank that supports a few thistles will also support goldfinches, and those dockweeds, buttercups, and dandelions are much appreciated by the non-human garden users. Most garden herbs are equally popular and often have a haze of humming insects over them in midsummer, including tiny hoverflies and even moths by night. Food growing gardeners can edge veggie beds with perennial herbs, including various kinds of oregano, thyme, sage and rosemary as well as annual flowers like feverfew, calendulas, California poppies, and sweet alyssum. The greater the variety of plants on offer, the greater the assortment and quantity of insect helpers that will call your garden home.<\/p>\n

That Promised List<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve shared this list many times over the years, as I\u2019ve never found one more comprehensive. I was first introduced to it at a workshop on beneficial insects at Interbay P-Patch some 30 years ago. You\u2019ll note the dearth of native plants because at that time, very few edible gardens-or gardens of any kind-included natives. Just know that any native plants you leave or add to your own garden will quickly attract native pollinators with no effort on your part. Back then, the presenter, Sean Phelan, was the Site Coordinator at Seattle\u2019s Judkins P-Patch, and he had carefully documented the P-Patch\u2019s most popular plants for pollinators through the year. Sean arranged his list of nectar-producing flowers by blooming season to help gardeners make appropriate and attractive planting choices.<\/p>\n

Sean\u2019s Non-Native Plants For Attracting Beneficial Insects<\/strong><\/p>\n

Key<\/p>\n

P= perennial; B=biennial; no notation=annual; I=intermittent through the year; F=through to frost; **=super nectar producer<\/p>\n

ULTRA EARLY (through winter)<\/p>\n

Autumn croci (**; P; pulchellus, albus, zonatus…)
\nHardy cyclamen (**; P; neapolitanum, hederifolium, coum\u2026)
\nHelebores (P)
\nMahonia (**; P, I)
\nSnowdrops (**; P)
\nAconite (**; P)
\nBorage (I, **)
\nCalendula (I, **)
\nEarliest narcissici (**P)<\/p>\n

EARLY<\/p>\n

Snow crocus species (**; P)
\nEarly daffodils and narcissi (**; P)
\nSpecies tulips (**; P; tarda, hageri…)
\nGlory-of-the-snow (**: P; Chionodoxa)
\nIris reticulata (**; P)
\nRosemary (P, **)
\nPrimrose ( P; early)
\nBolting cruciferae (**)<\/p>\n

MID-SPRING<\/p>\n

Single daffodils (P)
\nSpecies primrose (P)
\nScillas (**; P)
\nViolets (P; **)
\nViolas ( P, I, **)
\nAnemones (**; P; Spring-St. Brigid’s mix, monarch de caen…)
\nAlyssum (annual-I; and perennial; **)<\/p>\n

HIGH SPRING<\/p>\n

Late Single Daffodils (**;P)
\nTulips-single (P)
\nDutch iris
\nAquilegia (P;columbine)
\nArmeria maritima (P; **; native-sea pinks)
\nCandytufts (annual-F, &P, **)
\nDianthus (sweet Williams, some F; and per.pinks)
\nCreeping phlox ( P; **;incl. native P. subulata)
\nCampanulas (P)
\nCentaurea (**; A-I; &P)
\nDigitalis (**: B; foxglove)
\nEnglish daisy (B; **;bellis)
\nGodetia ( F; **;s summer’s herald-native)
\nClarkia (F; **; native-mountain garland)
\nLinaria (F; **0
\nLupines (A&P)
\nLunaria (B; money plant)
\nPyretheum ( P; painted daisy)
\nSaponarias (P; soapwort)
\nStocks (F, **)
\nCal. Bluebells (**, Phacelia campanularia)
\nNemophila (**)
\nTidy tips (**)
\nMyosotis ( B; **; forget-me-nots)
\nPoppies-single (all, A &P, **, California poppies-I)
\nSweet peas (**\u00f9)<\/p>\n

EARLY SUMMER<\/p>\n

Anagalis ( P; blue pimpernel)
\nBidens (P; golden goddess)
\nAchilleas ( P; I; F; **; incl. native A. millefolium)
\nNasturtiums (F, **)
\nChives (**; P; both garlic and regular)
\nParsley (**: B)
\nCilantro (**)
\nErigeron
\nDill (**)
\nMints (**)
\nDymorphotheca ( F; African daisy)
\nDahlberg Daisy (F)
\nShasta Daisy-single ( some F)
\ngeranium ( some F; true geranium-NOT Pelargonium)
\nGilia ( **; birds eyes)
\nPurple tansy (**; Phacelia tanecetifolia)
\nSilene (**; P; catchfly)
\nHesperus matronalis ( P; **; sweet rocket)
\nLinums (**; A & P)
\nLobelias (A- F; &P)
\nMonarda (**; P)
\nNepetas ( **; P;F; catnip, catmint…)
\nPotentillas (P, F)
\nSpireas (P)
\nViscaria (**; rose angel)
\nthymes (**; P)<\/p>\n

HIGH SUMMER<\/p>\n

Agastaches (**; P; licorice mint…)
\nAsclepias (**; b-fly weed)
\nAsters-single (A&P; F; **)
\nbrachymone ( F; swan river daisy)
\nBasils (**)
\nCatananche (P; cupid’s dart)
\nCentranthus ( P; F; jupiter’s beard)
\nCleome ( F; spider flower\u00f9)
\nAnnual chrysanthemum (F)
\nConvolvulus (F)
\ncoreopsis (F; **)
\nCosmos ( F; ; A&P)
\nDianthus ( F; A &P; carnations, ann. pinks… singles)
\nEupatorium ( **; joe pye weed)
\nGaillardia (F; **; A & P)
\nGazania (transvaal daisy)
\nHollyhocks-singles (**; P, B & A; singles)
\nMarigolds ( **; F; singles-“gem” series T. signata)
\nsummer savory
\nZinnias ( **; F; singles; Africans “profusion”series)
\nSalvias and sages ( some F; **; A & P)
\nOreganos ( **; P)
\nMalvas (P)
\nMimulus
\nPenstemons ( P; some F; incl. natives)
\nGauras ( P; F; **)
\nPhlox ( F; A & P)
\nPhysostegia (F; P; obedient plant)
\nPortulaca (F)
\nSunflowers-singles ( **; F; A & P)
\nTahoka daisy (**; F)
\nTorenia (F; wishbone flower)
\nTrachymene ( F; **;blue lace flower)
\nVerbenas ( F; **; A&P)
\nVerbascums (**; P)
\nVeronias ( P; **; F; speedwell)
\nlilies (**; P)
\nDaylilies-singles (**,P;some F)<\/p>\n

LATE SUMMER<\/p>\n

Asters-singles ( F: A&P: late)
\nAmaranthus (F)
\nEchinaceas (**; P; F; coneflowers)
\nCal\u00b4liopsis( **; F)
\nRudbeckias-singles (**; F; P; black-eyed susans)
\nRatibida (**; F; P; prairie coneflower)
\nOrnamental grasses (P- important part of beneficial bugs\u2019 life-cycle)
\nOenothera (**; P; F; evening primroses)
\nSedums (**; F; P; incl. natives)
\nEarly, single mums (F; P)
\nTithonia (**; F; Mexican sunflower)
\nSolidagos (**; F; goldenrods)<\/p>\n

FALL<\/p>\n

colchicums (**; P)
\nlate single mums (F; P)
\nlate sedums (**:F; P)
\nfall anemones(**; F; P)
\nsaffron crocus (**;P; all autumn crocus)….<\/p>\n

Remember, slugs are pollinators too!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Flower Slug mosaic by Raquel Stanek<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bees are beautiful Nurturing pollinators yard by yard Despite dire daily news about climate change and ecological destruction, I\u2019m heartened to observe increasing interest in protecting and nurturing pollinators. Cute, fuzzy honeybees still get the most media attention, but there\u2019s … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1],"tags":[2266,1189,2267],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1lB7f-JL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2837"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2838,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837\/revisions\/2838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loghouseplants.com\/blogs\/greengardening\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}