March 6, 2020

(1) Start Here

  1. The first step is to JOIN THE PROJECT:
    Click the 'join project' link at the top right-hand corner of the project page.

  2. PLAN YOUR GARDEN:
    Read our resource pages and design your garden, species and fixtures. Have questions? Ask them in our troubleshooting page or reach-out to us, we will do our best to help you in your journey!

  3. POST YOUR PROJECT:
    On a desktop view of iNaturalist, head to your profile, under your user-name there is a series of blue tabs. choose Journal.

Create a 'New Post'
TITLE: Nature Canada Pollinator Garden Challenge
BODY: Tell us about your project. If you are stuck for ideas, feel free to use as many ideas as you would like from the following template.
AREA Identified for my garden: tell us about the space that you chose to plant, where, what size, is it exposed, did you have to get permission to use it?
BEFORE: what is the state of the situation before you planted? were there plants? did you have to prepare the space at all? did you have to remove invasive plants?
TARGET SPECIES: do you have any species that you really want to attract to your garden? how are you going to do that? why are you interested in supporting that species? what is their IUCN status? etc.
PLANTS: What plants did you decide to plant? where did you source them? did you plant any non-native species?
GARDEN DESIGN: How did you incorporate wind breaks/ water sources? What is the exposure of your garden? Are there other wild spaces nearby? did you decide to amend the soil?
DATE: when did you plant your garden?
OTHER: links to project posts on social media, personal blogs, etc. Resources that you found particularly useful? What you wish you'd known before you started?
Creating this profile will allow people to look up your garden and understand what you did!

  1. Upload your observations:
    Upload observations of the species observed in your pollinator garden!
    This can include the plants, the pollinators or any other visitors to your little sanctuary.
    Comment, share and help others identify the species seen!

Posted on March 6, 2020 06:53 PM by larafalkiner larafalkiner | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Achievements Page

A space to share exciting sightings, new goals and installments, outstanding species counts, anything that makes you smile!
Anything goes, so long as you remember your kindergarten values and treat each other respectfully!

Posted on March 6, 2020 06:21 PM by larafalkiner larafalkiner | 0 comments | Leave a comment

March 3, 2020

Troubleshooting

So you've run into a problem, and you don't know what to do about it?
Take a look here to see if someone else is experiencing similar issues, if not, ask the community.
Comment your issue with as much detail as possible and we will see if we can help to resolve it!

Resources related to common challenges:
Aphid Control strategies - https://monarchbutterflygarden.net/control-aphids-milkweed-plants/

Posted on March 3, 2020 07:55 PM by larafalkiner larafalkiner | 0 comments | Leave a comment

(3) How to Create a Pollinator Garden:

Things to Consider when Designing your Pollinator Garden:

PLANT FOR YOUR POLLINATORS:
There are many varieties of plants that provide food resources for pollinators but which may have other adverse effects on the local environment. For example, blackberries are great for attracting bees, however, planting the wrong variety, such as the Himalayan blackberry, which is an aggressive space competitor and can quickly become a hazard. Goldenrod, which is a beautiful flower that attracts many pollinators, produces thousands of seeds and creates a network of rhizomes, which allows it to spread really, really fast, out competing the local flora. These are examples of how introduced species (not native to the area) can pose a threat to your local environment, by becoming invasive. It is always best to plant native species and take pride in supporting your local ecosystems!

SOURCING NATIVE SEEDS:
It is really important to get your seeds/seedlings from local sources.
Ordering seeds from large companies, can lead to unintentional introductions of non-native species and weeds.
Generally a simple google search including your town and 'native seeds' will turn up a couple of nurseries that provide local wildflower seeds. you can also go into your local garden center and ask their advice.
Want to try collecting your own native flower seeds? here is a guide to help you start: https://www.growwilduk.com/wildflowers/how-grow-wildflowers/seed-saving

ATTRACTING POLLINATORS TO YOUR GARDEN:
Make sure that when you plant, there is more than just one flower of each species. Pollinators are attracted to spaces where they are able to do some serious foraging before having to move on. Give them this opportunity by planting multiples of each plant you have selected. A diversity of plants is still necessary, but quantity of each species should be important too!

PLANTING YEAR-ROUND POLLINATOR GARDENS:
Include a variety of plants whose bloom-time spans from early spring to late fall to ensure the availability of habitat and food sources throughout the growing season. You can also plant species that support pollinators throughout their life cycle, including larval host plants and food plants (eg. milkweed for monarch butterflies, as well as nectar plants for the adults).

WINDBREAKS and SHELTER:
Strong winds may discourage pollinators from visiting your garden. When planning your garden, you can keep this in mind, perhaps planting near a building, a fence, a wall or a hedge, may help to mitigate the wind felt by the visitors to your pollinator garden. Hedges and Trees also provide sheltering habitat for pollinators to hide from weather extremes.

EXPOSURE:
Something to consider when planning your garden is how much direct sunlight your garden will get. This is important in planning the plant composition as well as in thinking about the pollinators who will eventually visit. For example, if your butterfly plants are tucked away in a dark corner, they are less likely to be visited than if the beautiful insects can perch in the sun while enjoying their feast.

WATER:
Insects do a lot of hard work in a day! They need fresh water to drink, but most can't land in open water without risk of drowning. When planning your pollinator garden, include a shallow water source with semi-submerged platforms (flat stones, broken pottery, etc.) at or near ground level, tends to work best!

NESTING HABITAT:
Think about what your bees and other bugs need for overwintering and nesting. Leaving some spare ground for burrowing bees, not clearing leaf litter and dead-wood, leaving the hollow stalks of flowers, restricting mowing to used portions of your yard and letting the rest grow, these are some of the things that can provide sanctuary to the pollinators that use your garden. If you are looking to do more, you can also build a pollinator hotel which when maintained properly, can provide good nesting habitat for a variety of bees and other positive insects.

GENERAL REFERENCES:
On Pollinators
https://www.pollinator.org/pollinators
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=cate
On Invasive Species
https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/NAPPC-Invasive-Species-Fact-Sheet.pdf
About Planting and Caring for Native Gardens
https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/DIY/habitat-projects/map-your-backyard/create-a-wildflower-garden.html
https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/create-pollinator-friendly-garden-birds-bees-butterflies/
http://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/DIY/habitat-projects/map-your-backyard/plant-for-bees-butterflies.html
https://www.canr.msu.edu/publications/how_to_protect_and_increase_pollinators_in_your_landscape
https://savvygardening.com/6-reasons-not-to-clean-up-your-garden-this-fall/
https://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore/gardening-for-wildlife/plants/buy/medallion/

Posted on March 3, 2020 07:52 PM by larafalkiner larafalkiner | 0 comments | Leave a comment

(2) Which Eco-region are you in?

PLANTING FOR YOUR REGION:
Use this website (https://www.pollinator.org/guides) to figure out which Eco-region you live in, using the first three digits of your postal code.

ONTARIO:
Lake Erie Lowlands - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/LakeErieLowlands.2017.pdf
version francais - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/LakeErieLowlands.French.2017.pdf
Manitoulin Lake Simcoe - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Manitoulin.LakeSimcoe.2017.pdf
version francais - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Manitoulin.LakeSimcoe.French.2017.pdf
Algonquin Lake Nipissing - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Algonquin.2017.pdf
version francais - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Algonquin.French.2017.pdf

QUEBEC:
Southern Laurentians - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/SouthernLaurentian-2017.pdf
version francais - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/SouthernLaurentian-FRENCH-2017.pdf
Central Laurentians - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/CentralLaurentian-2017.pdf
version francais - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/CentralLaurentian-FRENCH-2017.pdf
St. Lawrence Lowlands - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/StLawrence-2017.pdf
version francais - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/StLawrence-FRENCH-2017.pdf

ALBERTA and SASKATCHEWAN:
Aspen Parkland - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/AspenParkland.2017.pdf
Fescue Grassland- https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/FescueGrasslnd_158.2017.ver4-Canada.pdf
Mixed Grassland - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/MixedGrasslnd_159.2017.ver2.pdf
Moist Mixed Grassland- https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/MoistMixGrass_157.2017.ver3.pdf

MANITOBA:
Lake Manitoba Plain - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/LakeManitoba.2017.pdf

Nova Scotia:
Nova Scotia Highlands - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/NS.Highlands.pdf
South Central Nova Scotia Uplands- https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/SouthCentral.NovaScotiaUplands.low.pdf
South West Nova Scotia Uplands- https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Southwest.NS.Uplands.pdf

BRITISH COLUMBIA:
Thompson-Okanagan Plateau- https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Thompson_Okanagan.Plateau.2019.pdf
Okanagan Highlands- https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Okanagan.Highlands.2019.pdf
Okanagan Range- https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Okanagan.Range.2019.pdf
Lower Mainland - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/LowerMainland-2017.pdf
Eastern Vancouver Island - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/E.Vancouver.Isl.2017.pdf
Western Vancouver Island - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/W.Vancouver.Isl.2017.pdf
Georgia-Puget Basin - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Georgia.PugetBasin.2017.pdf
Pacific Ranges - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Pacific.Ranges.2017.pdf
Columbia Mountains and Highlands - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/ColumbMts.Highlands.2019.FINAL.pdf
Fraser Plateau - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/FraserPlateau.2019.FINAL.pdf
Coastal Gap - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/CoastalGap.2019.FINAL.pdf
Haida Gwaii - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/HaidaGwaii.2019.FINAL.pdf
Fraser Basin - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Fraser.Basin.2019.FINAL.pdf

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND:
PEI - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/PrinceEdw.Isl.2017.pdf

YUKON:
https://www.yukoninvasives.com/index.php/en/resources/brochures/22-be-plant-wise/file

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES:
https://www.naturewatch.ca/plantwatch/northwest-territories/

NUNAVUT
https://www.naturewatch.ca/plantwatch/nunavut/

Interested to know more about the Canadian Eco-regions? http://www.ecozones.ca/english/zone/index.html

Posted on March 3, 2020 05:30 PM by larafalkiner larafalkiner | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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