Gardening by Osmosis

We should bee proud! Washington State is a forerunner in developing legislation for protecting pollinators.

May 12, 2021, Governor Inslee signed SB 5253 to provide funding to, among other pollinator health concerns, help to ensure protection for over 400 different species of native bees in Washington. Other native pollinators such as butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, flies and hummingbirds that help pollenate our agricultural well-being are also included in the Pollinator Health Bill.

Awareness is the most effective tool. Before you swat that flying insect, consider the consequences. How many cherries, apples, grapes or huckleberries do you deny reaching your table? And Chocolate, who ever thought pollinators and chocolate had a thing going?

So what can you do? Plant more flowers. Honey bees must visit approximately two million flowers to make a one pound jar of honey.

For more information Google Washington Pollinator Health Bill Becomes Law, SB 5253

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife had a Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program that has evolved into an even better avenue for promoting Native Pollinators.

Participation is easy and fun: Contact Habitat at Home @ wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats-/living/habitat-at-home and you will be invited to receive certification for your landscape.

The next item on an advocate of pollinators agenda must be what plants to use.

I am a proponent of native plants but not all natives are the same. When purchasing natives or other lovelies, it is not only a good idea, it is often paramount to pollinators to know if pesticides have been used in the growth and development of the plant. In many cases residual effects may linger on the plant causing illness or death to the healthy pollinators in your garden.

A marvelous resource for native plant selection is Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Arthur R. Kruckeberg and Linda Chalker-Scott have compiled a delightful and thorough guide for using native plants. The photos are wonderful, too.

When is a fly a bee? When a Bee Fly is sporting its pair of wings. A Bee has two pairs of wings. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the second pair as it may seem to be connected to the major wing. Many of the tiny little bees look like flies and many of the flies resemble bees. Another distinguishing feature is the eye of the insect. Though we don’t often wish to look them in the eye, the key to identifying the species is found right there. Bee species have eyes on the sides of their heads, whereas the flies eyes nearly touch one another on the top of the face. No unibrow there!

The gradual warming of our outdoor temperatures have awakened some of our early pollinators. Don’t be too hard on them. They are most likely looking for a mate. It is almost spring time you know!

Please contact the WSU Spokane County Master Gardeners @http://spokane-county.wsu,edu/spokane/or call 505-477-2181 for more information

Master Gardeners are also available at the Cheney Library 1st & 3rd Fridays, April to October