Native Pollinators

Pollinator fun facts:

• Native pollinators include bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, hummingbirds, bats, and moths
• Honey bees visit 5 million flowers to make on pint of honey
• 1 in 3 bites of the food we eat depends on pollinators
• 38% of pollinator species are threatened or in decline
• 90% of Monarch Butterfly populations have fallen over the past 20 years

Pollinator populations are declining, threatened by loss of habitat, disease, and pesticide use. The GOOD news is that anyone can support native pollinators with conscious choices. You can help by planting a pollinator garden to provide habitat, protection and food for native pollinators. Tips for success:

• Use plants that provide nectar and pollen sources for a wide range of native bees, beetles, butterflies and birds
• Provide a water source for pollinators
• Plant the garden in a sunny area with wind breaks
• Create large “pollinator targets” of native and non-invasive plants
• Establish continuous bloom throughout the growing season
• Eliminate or minimize use of pesticides and herbicides in your garden and yard

At Kitsap Conservation District, we installed a pollinator hedgerow and garden in Fall 2020. Additionally, in the GRACE Garden we are always looking for ways to support pollinators. We planted a large herb garden to supply herbs to the food banks and provide nectar and pollen, plant cover crops like buckwheat and crimson clover for healthy soils and mid and late-season blooms, and allow overwintered crops like broccoli to flower in early spring for pollinators.