>> Margaret Hantiuk
This time of year, with fruit trees beginning to bloom and as we are planting our veggie gardens, it is a good time to think of our gardening allies: the ones we take for granted because they do their jobs freely, and without supervision. I mean the birds and bees. Without bees, the pollination of our fruit trees and many veggies would be scant, and our crops poor. Without birds, we would be overwhelmed with bugs—including mosquitos.
There are many types of bees that inhabit our gardens besides the bumble and honey bees. Orchard mason bees are small, blackish bees that look like houseflies. They have a short lifespan as they have evolved to emerge in spring, forage (fruit tree blossoms, for one), and then pack it in—literally; they cocoon in little mud-filled cracks, like adobe! You can help them out by having flowering shrubs ready for them when they emerge, including Mahonia, flowering currants, and fruits.
Scientists are finding that even small amounts of pesticides prevent honey bees from being able to forage properly; they become confused and don’t “learn” the skills needed both to forage for the correct plants, and how to “tell” their colony where to find them, or they can’t remember where they are.
Besides not using poisons in our gardens, the other hugely beneficial thing we can do is to choose plants that feed bees and other pollinators. West Coast Seeds, in their wonderfully informative and locally suitable catalogue, has symbols by plants that feed pollinators, beneficial insects, butterflies, and birds. Most other seed catalogues (T and T, William Dam for example) are doing so, too.
Apparently, because of environmental toxins, global warming, and the loss of habitat (industrialization, urbanization, and also mono-cropping), two out of five species of invertebrate pollinators are on the road to extinction. We are needed! Our yards and gardens can make a difference! Have a source of water for these allies in our dry summers: a pan of water (change it often to keep mosquitos from breeding), if not a pond or rain garden. Leave the seeds on your plants (if you are not saving them) in the fall for birds to forage in the winter. Plant shrubs with berries that birds can eat. Try some native flowering plants for our pollinators: Monarda (Bee Balm), Liatris (Blazing Star), Giant hyssop (Agastache), Goldenrod (Solidago), Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium), Lupines, Milkweed (Asclepsis), Oregon Grape (Mahonia), Penstemon, Coneflower (Echinacea), Rhododendron, Sage (Salvia), Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), Spiderwort (Tradescantia), Sunflower (Helianthus), and Willow (Salix). Some non-native flowers that are bee-friendly include: Basil, Borage, Blanket Flower (Gaillardia), Catnip (Nepeta), Cotoneaster, Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary, and Russian Sage (Perovskia).
Usually, beneficial bugs will come along to consume the bad bugs. Our job is to grow healthy plants with strong immune systems. This is done by building good soil (compost!), watering adequately in our dry summers, and putting the right plant in the right spot.
A local nursery that has a good selection of city yard-sized fruit trees where several varieties are grafted onto the same tree is Le Cocteau, up behind Elk Lake. Bob Duncan’s Fruit Trees and More also sells tried-and-true varieties of fruit trees and berries. His yard, where he sells his homegrown trees, is a marvel for growing fruit in smaller spaces. Buying fruit trees and berry bushes from these local growers gives you a chance to learn from them and their research, and it helps keep them in business. And their stock is probably healthier and better for our locale.
