A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators
A native Bumblebee covered in pollen works the flowers of a beauty berry.
A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators by Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla (2022 paperback) 250pp Douglas & McIntyre
Authors explore benefits of using native plants in our gardens
Native plant gardening – once a bastion for former tree-hugging hippies – is fast becoming an acceptable almost trendy form of gardening from inner cities to suburbia and from beginners to seasoned gardeners.
And that’s just fine with garden authors Lorraine Johnson and researcher Sheila Colla whose informative and entertaining gardening book, A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee, is all about promoting the use of native plants to create habitat for pollinators.
But they’re not kidding themselves about the amount of work still ahead.
While the use of native plants in gardens is fast becoming more commonplace, the gap between non-native and native plant gardeners remains a massive problem that threatens the future of pollinators that depend on native plants for their continued existence.
A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee is aimed at narrowing that gap and bringing more gardeners into the fold, while providing existing native plant gardeners with a blueprint on how to explore native plants and gardens to a fuller extent.
A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee is an outstanding addition to any gardeners’ library.
At the heart of the book, is the detailed profiling of more than 300 native plants, (over 250 pages) along with sample garden designs, ideas for beautiful plant pairings and numerous tips for success. All of this valuable information is meticulously illustrated by Ann Sanderson’s incredible artwork.
This beautifully-illustrated plant guide is so detailed that it connects each plant with its pollinators and the hosts (caterpillars and insects) that depend on the plants to mature into adulthood as bees, butterflies and other insects. This feature in the book will go a long way to helping gardeners discover the crucial connections between native plants and native pollinators, and learn how to cultivate patches of pollinator paradise.
“There is much about the natural world that science has yet to discover and understand, but one thing we do know is that native plants and native pollinators form systems of association that are vital to supporting all life on earth,” the authors write. “When we plant native plants, we are supporting and strengthening this web of connections—supporting and strengthening ecological relationships that have functioned for millennia.”
Ann Sanderson’s outstanding illustrations add a touch of elegance and creativity to the book.
Although the authors focus is on native plants and pollinators of Ontario and the Great Lakes region, it is a must-have for native plant gardeners looking to better understand the relationship between plants and their pollinators.
“When we fill landscapes with introduced, non-native plants, we are severing crucial, dependent relationships between native plants and wildlife that have evolved over millennia,” the authors write. “These partnerships and interdependencies support all life on Earth, including us.”
“Non-native plants may provide pollinators with some of the resources they need, such as nectar, but not the pollen or other resources (oils, for example) that specialist bees require, nor the host plants that moth and butterfly larvae require.”
And speaking of specialist bees.
That’s where the title of the book comes into play. The Rusty-Patched Bumblebee has not been seen in Ontario since 2009 when co-author Sheila Colla happened to catch a glimpse of one while searching for it as part of her research work at York University in Toronto.
Illustration by Ann Sanderson.
The authors hope the sudden disappearance of this native bee once common in the area should be an awakening call for scientists and a call to action for gardeners.
“There has been a lot of interest lately in honeybee-keeping as a way to help pollinators. However, starting a honeybee hive does not help save wild bees, any more than keeping backyard hens helps save wild birds,” the authors write. “There is a growing body of scientific studies documenting that non-native honeybees are negatively affecting native bees”
Johnson and Colla are hoping gardeners realize the importance of helping our native bees, and they are more than willing to provide the blueprint for gardeners.
This Illustration by Ann Sanderson is an example of the many gardens provided to readers, complete with native plant suggestions.
Designing your patch of native garden
While the plant profiles form the root of the book, the detailed plans and helpful suggestions will be the catalyst to inspire gardeners to put their shovels to work. The authors even go so far as to offer advice on how to design your native plant garden. Here’s just a sampling of the advice Johnson and Cola provide in the book.
• Choose native plants according to your conditions: sun, partial sun/shade, or shade; moist, regular or dry soil.
• Plan to have a diversity of continuous and overlapping blooming periods, from early spring to late fall, with three species in bloom at any one period.
• Include a variety of flower colours and flower shapes—for example, tubular blooms, cup-shaped blooms, etc.
• Consider the eventual height, spread, and flower colour of each plant, and decide on a design that appeals to you.
• Design in groups with three to five plants of each species, in clusters, to produce abundant foraging opportunities.
• Space the plants roughly 1 to 2 feet apart, depending on the mature size of the species, because many native plants will greatly expand in size over their first few years of growth and will crowd each other if planted too closely together.
From designing your native plants to maintaining the finished garden
• Keep your newly planted patch well-watered for the first growing season—especially during periods of drought. In the following years, you will only need to water during extended periods of drought when the plants are showing signs of water-deficiency, such as wilting. Keep in mind, though, that some wilting during hot summer days is to be expected, and plants will bounce back.
• Remove any unwanted plants (for example, aggressively spreading non-native plants) as soon as they appear, and be careful not to pull out young volunteer seedlings of native plants.
• Mulch your plants to help control weeds and retain soil moisture, but ensure that your patch includes some areas of bare soil for ground-nesting bees.
• Consider deadheading spent blooms to encourage more f lowering—and thus more nectar and pollen for pollinators.
Illustration by Ann Sanderson.
• Don’t use pesticides (they are toxic to bees and other creatures). In Ontario, the cosmetic use of pesticides (which includes herbicides and fungicides) is banned.
• In the fall and winter, leave stems and dead stalks on plants rather than removing them, as they provide habitat for overwintering bees. In the spring, it is best to wait until there have been two or three weeks of warm daytime temperatures (above 10 C) before cutting back stalks, to give bees time to emerge. But if you decide to cut the stalks before then, cut them only to about 30 cm (12 in) to 40 cm (15 in) tall.
• If you do remove stems and stalks in the fall, bundle them up and keep them in an out-of-the-way place as overwintering habitat. Do the same with stems and stalks you remove in the spring, as bees might not yet have emerged following winter
Of course, this is just a sampling of the information the authors provide readers within their book.
• More information on the importance of native bees in my post here.
There are illustrations of example gardens – from those that can be set up on a small balcony, to gardens for the sun and shade. The book includes sources for native plants and seeds as well as resources for more information on native plants. There are tips and tricks, as well as proven practises to ensure success.
It’s clear that authors Johnson and Colla tackled this project out of love and the genuine hope that the book can make a difference.
In an interview with Gail Hope for Landscape Ontario, highly acclaimed garden author Lorraine Johnson explains her hope for the book.
“My hope for the book is that we help people understand some very complicated issues in a very straightforward, basic, and engaging way,” Johnson explains.
“I hope it also inspires people to action: planting a pollinator patch (even a tiny one), or adding a few native plants to a non-native garden, which is mainly what people have. If we inspire people to add a few native plants to their garden then they will see all of the butterflies, bees, and birds that the native plants support. However, individuals can do all this but if we are in a place that doesn’t value the natural greenspace and just paves it over, we’ll still be in trouble. We can create habitat until we are blue in the face but the losses are going to be greater than the gains without political and policy changes as well.”
Be sure to check out my posts on author Lorraine Johnson’s work with native plants here:
• Lorraine Johnson: Early pioneer for native plants
• Native gardening from meadows to woodlands
Lorraine Johnson: A longtime leader and advocate in native plant gardening
Lorraine’s passion for gardening and expertise in the field is evident in the numerous books she has written on the subject. Her books cover a wide range of topics, providing valuable insights and practical advice for gardeners of all levels of experience.
Lorraine Johnson is leading the way in educating gardeners about the importance of native plants.
• One of Lorraine’s notable works is “100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens.” This book highlights the beauty and benefits of using native plants in Canadian gardens. Lorraine explores the unique characteristics of each plant, including their adaptability to local climates and their ability to attract pollinators. This book serves as a comprehensive guide for gardeners looking to incorporate native plants into their landscapes.
•Another popular book by Lorraine is The New Ontario Naturalized Garden. In this book, she delves into the concept of naturalized gardening and its benefits for both the environment and gardeners. Lorraine provides practical tips on creating a naturalized garden, including plant selection, maintenance, and design principles. This book is a valuable resource for those interested in creating sustainable and wildlife-friendly gardens.
• Lorraine has also written City Farmer: Adventures in Urban Food Growing, which explores the growing trend of urban agriculture. In this book, she shares stories and experiences from urban farmers across Canada, showcasing the innovative ways they are growing food in cities. Lorraine’s book inspires readers to embrace urban farming and provides practical advice for starting their own urban food gardens.
Lorraine’s work is groundbreaking because it addresses emerging trends in gardening, such as urban agriculture. Her book, City Farmer: Adventures in Urban Food Growing, highlights the innovative ways in which urban farmers are growing food in cities. By showcasing these practices, Lorraine inspires readers to reimagine the possibilities of gardening in urban environments and encourages them to take part in the urban farming movement.
Sheila Colla has been researching native bee ecology since 2004.
SHEILA COLLA
Sheila Colla is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University in Toronto.
She has been researching native bee ecology and decline since 2004. She works closely with environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) and government agencies to implement the best available science in policy and land management.
She co-authored The Bumblebees of North America: An Identification Guide (Princeton University Press, 2014) and helps run the citizen science program BumbleBeeWatch.
Ann Sanderson’s exquisite art work is featured throughout the book.
ANN SANDERSON
Ann Sanderson has had a lifelong fascination with both science and the arts.
After completing an undergraduate degree in Zoology and Biology from the University of Toronto, she attended the Science Illustration program at the University of California in Santa Cruz.
Ann honed her skills as an illustrator while working in New York at Scientific American magazine and the American Museum of Natural History.
She is now a freelance illustrator in Toronto where she enjoys gardening and visually documenting the plants and wildlife of the city. Ann’s work can be found at annsciart.com.
Author Profile: Vic MacBournie is a former journalist and author/owner of the award-winning website Ferns & Feathers. He writes about his woodland wildlife garden that he has created over the past 25 years and enjoys sharing his garden photography with readers.