As spring arrives and homeowners begin planning their gardens, a local biologist is sharing practical advice on how to create pollinator-friendly spaces that support the ecosystem.
Brenda Cunningham presented five key strategies for protecting and enriching local pollinators during the monthly Camano Wildlife Habitat Project meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 18, according to the organization. The presentation was delivered via Zoom to members interested in supporting local wildlife.
Cunningham brings extensive expertise to the topic as a biologist, artist and former employee of the National Parks Service and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. She currently manages the Washington Native Plant Society’s display garden in Mount Vernon and regularly speaks with the Camano Wildlife Habitat Project, typically giving annual lessons in late winter or early spring.
The biologist emphasized that pollinators extend far beyond the commonly recognized bumblebee. Flies, beetles, birds such as hummingbirds and even small mammals all play crucial roles in helping plants reproduce and maintaining the food web and ecosystem, according to Cunningham.
“I’m going to focus on bumblebees and butterflies and what we can do to support those two groups of pollinators,” Cunningham said during the presentation. “By supporting those two groups, inevitably, you’ll be supporting a lot of pollinators.”
The timing of her presentation aligns with a critical period in bee life cycles. Queens are currently in hibernation following fertilization by males, while the rest of the population has died off. In spring, the queens will emerge to forage for food and prepare to lay eggs, according to Cunningham’s explanation of the seasonal cycle.
The first rounds of eggs will consist mostly of female bees who will forage for food to bring to the queen, who continues laying eggs. By summer’s end, those eggs will produce more queen bees and males for mating, according to the presentation.
Cunningham sourced her five recommendations from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which she described as a group “entirely dedicated to the promotion of invertebrate life on our planet.” The strategies include planting native species, clustering plant species together, choosing plants that flower throughout the year, leaving stems on plants, and providing ground-nesting habitats.
The first recommendation focuses on native plant species, which Cunningham said helps protect the local ecosystem and its wildlife. She explained that 90% of insects that eat plants can only consume the native plants they coevolved with.
“Some are very reliant on them,” she said. “Butterflies will only lay their eggs on native plants that they’ve evolved alongside.”
Cunningham discussed pollinator syndromes, describing how plants and pollinators that evolved together develop complementary physical characteristics. She cited penstemons as an example, noting their tube-like petal structure allows bees to crawl inside for nectar while becoming covered in pollen to transport to other flowers.
“They have this mutualistic relationship where they’re both benefiting,” she said.
The clustering strategy involves grouping the same plant species together, which Cunningham acknowledged can initially challenge gardeners experimenting with plant placement. However, she recommended the approach because pollinators often feed on the same plant type for hours, making clustered plantings more efficient.
“Once you know a plant is in a good spot, it’s best to try and propagate a large area of that plant,” she said. “It’s a little bit easier on the eyes, too.”
For year-round support, Cunningham noted that certain plants around Camano and Stanwood are already beginning to bloom, providing early food sources for emerging pollinators.
The presentation underscores the importance of individual gardening choices in supporting broader ecosystem health, particularly as pollinators face various environmental pressures.
