Habitat assessment by HoppRobinson

HoppRobinson's picture
Assessment results
Answer givenOur advice
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!
Does the garden use herbicides?: 
Yes.
Consider reducing your herbicide use and be sure it is an herbice that is not toxic to pollinators.
How many different pollinator counts will your contribute this year?: 
More than one.
We'd love to see pollinator counts from any of the plants in your garden as many times as you can contribute. Thanks!

Score: 184 (out of a possible 210)

My husband only uses roundup to clear the ditches along the road. I weed everything else by hand. I have a haystack to prove it.

Our "yard" is a 5 acre space but 4/5s of it is wild Sagebrush Shrub Steppe, that seems to have escaped any use (no cattle grazing historically, etc.) Around the house we have a mix of native and non-native plants. As the non-natives die out they will be replaced with natives. There are 3 grassy meadows/fields where dirt was moved as the house was built that have been restored with native grasses and wildflowers. We have many species of native bees and wasps plus an assortment of cuckoo bees as well. Honey bees do visit--but I have never spotted a hive while driving around the area so they must either be feral or fly a long distance to get here.

Which garden or space are you describing?: 
Squilchuck Canyon
How large is your yard?: 
5.00
acres
Are there areas with bare ground and very few plants?: 
Yes
Are there areas with sandy loamy soil?: 
Yes
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
Do you have native bunchgrasses?: 
Several areas or one large area.
Are there bee nesting blocks?: 
Yes
Is your nest block near a landmark like a rock?: 
Yes
Does your nest block have less than 20 holes?: 
Yes
Did you clean or replace your nest block in the last two years?: 
Yes
How much of the garden is planted with flowering annual or perennial plants (including shrubs, vegetables and trees)?: 
Most (more than 75%)
Are the flowering plants that you have pollinator friendly?: 
Most (more than 75%)
How many flowers in your garden bloom in spring?: 
10 or more
How many flowers in your garden bloom in fall?: 
10 or more
How many flowers in your garden bloom in summer?: 
10 or more
Are flowers planted in clumps?: 
Yes.
How much mulch is on the ground?: 
Some.
Is there fresh, clean water always available with a perch that bees could stand on and drink?: 
Yes
Are pesticides used in the garden?: 
No