Napa County Master Gardeners plant a nectar corridor for pollinators
Celebrations have just concluded for National Pollinator Week, an annual international event to raise awareness about the important role pollinators play in our everyday lives.
One way we can help pollinators is by planting nectar corridors. These dedicated plantings give our pollinators the food they need to survive. These areas also provide helpful pit stops for migrating species like the Monarch butterfly.
Ideally, a nectar corridor is at least a half-acre, but not everyone has that much space to dedicate to pollinator plants. I have seen sidewalk strips developed as mini nectar corridors. You do what you can.
As a home gardener, think about what you can plant to support pollinators.
If you need ideas, one good resource is Gardening for Pollinators and Biodiversity on the UC Davis Arboretum website.
It’s important to keep your garden poison free and to have food-rich plants available when migrating species visit our area. If plants are blooming too early, the nectar may not be available for them when they pass through. Planning for a long nectar and pollen season can help.
Did you know that three-quarters of flowering plants and over one-third of the world’s crops depend on pollination for reproduction? To maintain our own food supply, we need to feed bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, hummingbirds and bats.
Due to climate change, the use of toxic chemicals and a reduction in native habitats, many pollinators are struggling.
If you would like to see what a nectar corridor looks like, visit the Las Flores Community Center in Napa. Napa County Master Gardeners developed and maintain several learning gardens at the site and one of the gardens is dedicated to pollinators. We had a Monarch sighting on the milkweed last year. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is the Monarch’s only host plant; it lays its eggs exclusively on milkweed and its larvae feed on the plant leaves.
In March, Napa County Resource Conservation District held a community-wide event to plant native species on the Napa Valley Vine Trail. The garden is located across from Silenus Winery in Napa.
The Land Trust of Napa County and its conservation partners have been working to restore Monarch habitat in Napa County. By propagating essential native plants and removing invasive species, they are creating more habitat for butterfly survival. Last year they planted 1,000 milkweed and nectar plants. The plan is to plant an additional 800 this fall. The more habitat, the more potential benefit to the Monarch population.
All of these nectar corridors have a lasting positive impact on our local environment.
A nectar corridor should provide food, water, shelter or cover and a place to raise young. When thinking about what to plant, be sure you support the entire life cycle. Adults like certain plants and they will seek a food source for their larvae. A little tolerance is required on our part as the larvae can chew on a lot of plants and leave their frass behind.
California native plants tend to bloom in early spring and summer. You can extend the blooming season by incorporating plants from other areas with a Mediterranean climate.
Some butterfly species such as the Monarch will migrate when the season changes, but most pollinators stay home and ride out the cold. So, in the winter we are surrounded by bees and butterflies even though we can’t see them. Most native bees spend the winter in their nests, often nesting in the ground in our yards or raised beds. Some invertebrates will nest or hibernate around rocks and wood debris.
Take a hard look at your yard and consider the pollinators. Having a large diversity of plants will attract a variety of pollinators. Many blooming plants that we consider weeds are attractive to pollinators. This year I allowed more flowering weeds to stay in my garden.
Maintain a shallow dish with water and add rocks for pollinators to land on so they can drink without drowning. Avoid pesticides. Ensure multiple plants are blooming each season.
Instead of turf grass, consider planting white clover as a green groundcover. It also provides food for our pollinators.
In my own yard, I plan to make some pollinator-friendly changes. I’ll be pulling out some plants and replacing them with natives, which have the added benefit of being drought tolerant.
Tree Walk: Join UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for a docent-led tree walk of Fuller Park in Napa on Friday, July 11, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Historic Fuller Park is an arboretum with many exotic and native trees planted over the past 120 years. Meet at the corner of Oak and Jefferson Streets in Napa. Registration required.
Workshop: Join UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for a workshop on “Adding New Excitement to Your Succulent Garden” on Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to noon, at UC Cooperative Extension, 1710 Soscol Ave., Napa. Learn how to add interest, structure, biodiversity and movement to your succulent garden with companion planting. Register here.
Library Talk: UC Master Gardeners of Napa County with Napa Public Library will host a free talk on “Beautiful and Protective Firewise Landscaping” on Thursday, Aug. 7, from 7 to 8 p.m. via Zoom. Learn how to make your home more firewise and how to landscape with fire safety and resilience in mind without sacrificing beauty. Note that the meeting will not allow entry after 7:15 p.m. Register to receive the Zoom link.
Help Desk: The Master Gardener Help Desk is available to answer your garden questions on Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the UC Cooperative Extension Office, 1710 Soscol Ave., Suite 4, Napa. Or send your questions to [email protected]. Include your name, address, phone number and a brief description of the problem.
Cathy Purlee is a UC Master Gardener of Napa County
