Habitat assessment by Kristiana

Kristiana's picture
Assessment results
Answer givenOur advice
Are there areas with bare ground and very few plants?: 
No
Consider increasing the amount of bare ground. Ground nesting bees are more likely to nest where there is bare ground.
Are there areas with sandy loamy soil?: 
No
Consider increasing the amount of sandy loamy soil. Ground nesting bees often prefer sandy loamy soil as it is easier to dig and drains well. Sandy loam is made up of 10-50% silt or organic matter, 50-75% sand, and less than 20% clay. So if you have 15% sand in your existing soil, you will need to add enough sand to make it at least 50%. If you have 30% clay, you will need to add enough of the sand or compost to bring that percentage down to less than 20%.
Do you have native bunchgrasses?: 
None.
Increase the amount of bunch grass in your yard. Many bees nest and overwinter at the base of these grasses.
Are there bee nesting blocks?: 
No
Supplement your habitats with nest blocks. Learn how to build them here.
What is the main type of vegetation in the area you are evaluating (park, garden, yard, farm...)?: 
Other
Having a lot of native plants that flower in your habitat will really increase the quality of the habitat for bees.
How much of the whole yard, park, farm or green space is garden space or wild/natural vegetation?: 
A lot. More than 40%.
You are doing a great job managing for pollinators!
How much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?: 
Not much (1-25%)
Consider supplementing your garden with some native, pollinator friendly plants and converting some lawn!
Are the flowering plants that you have pollinator friendly?: 
Some (25-50%)
Considering adding more pollinator friendly plants.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in spring?: 
7-9
Add 2 or 3 more kinds of spring flowers.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 
1-3
Add 4-6 more fall flowers to support fall bees.
How many flowers in your garden bloom in summer?: 
4-6
Add 2-3 more types of summer flowers to support summer bees.
Are flowers planted in clumps?: 
No.
Consider planting flowers in clumps. Bees are more likely to be attracted to larger patches of flowers of the same type.
How many different pollinator counts will your contribute this year?: 
Ten or more.
We'd love to see pollinator counts from any of the plants in your garden as many times as you can contribute. Thanks for contributing!

Score: 118 (out of a possible 210)

The 2.4 acres is 1 mile from Puget Sound. We get marine fog and chilly breezes. The property is ringed by trees - mostly Douglas firs, Cedars, a few Pines, Madrone, and Willows, Alder, 1 Redwood, plus many understory and low growing plants. We have a lot of native Salal, Thimble Berry, Snowberry, Salmon Berry, Wild Mountain Blackberry, Sword ferns, 3 Red Flowering Currants, and many native mosses and lichens, reeds, sedges and grasses. There is a pond in 2 parts. One side has a few plants growing around the edge, including the invasive Iris. There are Koi in that part. The other side is a wild wetland with many cattails and probably many plants I don’t know about. The invasive Iris is now in that part. There are many frogs, at lease 3 kinds, but no Bull Frogs. There are 4 kinds of Dragonflies in the summer. The center of the property has a grass area which is now mostly moss. There are 3 apple and 2 plum trees.in the center area and 3 more apple trees in another area. There are 2 small houses on the property.

Which garden or space are you describing?: 
Camano Island, Washington
How large is your yard?: 
2.40
acres
Are there low traffic areas where the soil is not turned over, tilled or plowed?: 
Yes
Are there areas dead wood, brush piles or snags present?: 
Yes
Are there areas with pithy twigs (elderberry, cane fruit, sumac, etc…)?: 
Yes
How much mulch is on the ground?: 
None.
Is there fresh, clean water always available with a perch that bees could stand on and drink?: 
Yes
Does the garden use herbicides?: 
No.
Are pesticides used in the garden?: 
No