Pollinator garden

James Bay New Horizons

By Sue Ann Gentry and Mark Powell

James Bay New Horizons is a-buzz with our newly started Pollinator Garden. This made possible by becoming a recipient of a City of Victoria Neighbourhood Enhancement Matching Program Grants in 2014.

As always we gardeners are impatient to get our hands into the soil. You may have noticed the dedicated volunteers out working to remove the hedge, grass and sod and replacing it with clean and healthy new soil.

Much effort and research has gone into plant selection and also to educate ourselves on the Neonicotinoid (the insecticide that is being associated with bee deaths) issue. We are canvassing local nurseries and plant stores to see if they are selling neonicotinoid free plants. Much to our relief our local Thrifty’s store is well aware of this issue and assured us that their plants are neonic free!

We chose carefully so that seasonally the pollinators would have both nectar and pollen - a list that we are going to make available so that you too can help the butterflies, bees, beetles and hummingbirds. Beyond plantings habitat is important too. You might notice a few Mason Bee houses on the front of the building along with a Hummingbird Feeder. A water feature will be added soon along with different homes for the different pollinators.

So who are the most important pollinators in our region?

Native Bees like the Bumble, Sweat, Hairy-Belly, Mining, and Mason who are mostly ground-nesters; Flies, Butterflies, Moths, Beetles and Honey Bees (non-native) who are managed in hives.

Most of you will remember the old crumbling bench that was too far-gone to save. A wooden replacement is being created for us as a class project by the students at Vic High and will soon be ready for your... er, consideration. I don't know about you, but the old paving stone seat was a little chilly come winter. 

Here are a few tips to welcome pollinators into your garden:

Avoid using pesticides & insecticides

Provide a small water source / bath. A shallow bowl or plate with rocks placed at ground level.

Plant a variety of plants that flower at different times and don’t forget the native varieties.  

Put up a Mason Bee house

Bee sure to drop by and say hello to our volunteer gardeners, give them your feedback, share garden stories and information. We can't wait to see the plants and seeds start to really do their stuff. 

Folks can follow the progress of the garden and our updates via:

http://www.jamesbaynewhorizons.ca/ Under Blog / Pollinator Garden