2012 Whatcom conservation district native plant Sale … · 2012 Whatcom conservation district...

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19th Annual SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012 • 9AM-2PM MINIMUM: A $100 minimum purchase is required with a 50% deposit due upon order place- ment. Most of our plants are sold in bundles of 5 or 10, and a few are sold in individual 4-inch pots. DEADLINE: Pre-orders must be received no later than Monday March 12, 2012. Order early- pre-orders are filled in the order received. PICKUPS: Friday, March 23, 9am-3:00pm and at the Open Sale, March 24. PRE-ORDERS 2012 Whatcom Conservation District Whatcom Community College Campus, 237 W. Kellogg Rd. From I-5, take exit 256, head north on Guide Meridian, turn left (west) onto Kellogg Rd and go straight through the round- about. Turn right before the tennis courts and soccer fields at Kelly Hall main parking lot. Sale is held at the Roe Pottery Studio. Parking is available adjacent to the sale at Kelly Hall main parking lot. Alternate entrance: follow W. Kellogg as it bends around to the north and becomes Stuart Road. DIRECTIONS TO THE PLANT SALE On the Campus of Whatcom Community College Plant Grade and size: Plants are con- servation grade stock, graded on their ability to survive, not on their ornamen- tal value. Seedling plants are not large (generally between 10”- 24” tall), so your order will fit in the trunk or back seat of your car. We will have bags and packing materials available at the sale, or feel free to bring your own. Availability of Plants: We cannot guarantee the availability of all the plants. Uncontrollable situations, crop failure, disease or damage are all factors. If we cannot fill part or all of your order, a plant substitution will be offered. Order forms and plant descriptions are available on WCD’s website www.what- comcd.org. Payment must be made by cash or check. Information and forms can be requested from the WCD office at (360-354-2035 ext. 3) or e-mail wcd@ whatcomcd.org. Native Plant Sale and EXPO Location GUIDE MERIDIAN I-5 COR DA T A PKW Y W BAKERVIEW RD W KELLOGG RD E BAKERVIEW RD ELIZA RD WE STER LY R D BELLIS FAIR PKWY S T U A R T R D EXIT 256 Bellis Fair Mall EXIT 257 NORTHWEST DR Plant Sale ¸ W h a t c o m C o m u n i t y C o l l e g e Whatcom Comunity College The WCD’s annual plant sale promotes the stewardship and conservation of our natural resources. Planting native trees and shrubs can provide many positive benefits to your property and the natural environment such as improved water quality, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, reduction of wind and soil erosion, cleaner air, reduction of energy costs, and beautification! All proceeds from the plant sale support the WCD’s conserva- tion education programs. Open Sale: Plants will be sold individually on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday March 24th, 9am-2pm. We accept cash or check only. Thank You 2011 Plant Sale Vendors and Volunteers The success of our plant sale de- pends on our great local partners and dedicated volunteers! Thank You!, Special thanks to our Partner and host Whatcom Community College Brian Keeley, Grounds Crew Staff, Fred Tabor and Roe Studio instruc- tors and students. Educational Exhibitors and Agencies: Nooksack Salmon En- hancement Association (NSEA), Washington Native Plant Society, Sustainable Connections, Green Power Program (PSE) Local Nurseries and growers: Sunbreak Nursery, Tree Frog Farm, Plantas Nativa, Namaste Gardens, Uprising Seeds, Tuxedo Garden, Squalicum Mountain Ecological Restoration Food and Refreshments: Bell- ingham Food Coop -Cordata Store, Trader Joe’s of Bellingham, Belle- wood Acres, Starbucks Musical Guests: The Vibram Souls—Tom Chisholm, Amy Mann, Lynne Givler, Kieth Carpenter and David Bean Volunteers: John Gilles, Seth June , Leif Embertson WSU Master Gardeners: Gayle Haines, Kathy Marlowe, Louise Granger, Mary Carlson, Ginny Win- field, JoAnn Reitz, Alden Sievers, Barbara Curry NSEA’s Washington Conserva- tion Corp Crew: Justin Lamb, Sam Wiggins, Rachel Allison, Alexander Vaughn, Stephanie Huck, Ashley Gullicksen NSEA Interns: Colin Riordan, De- van Larson, Suzan Nasona, Tommy Beggs , Peter Fosmire, Lynni Bennett In addition to WCC, organizations and volunteers our sale would be nothing without our customers. WCD would like to give a BIG thank you to all our customers, new and old, who came out and purchased native plants. If it weren’t for y’all, there would be no plant sale. Look- ing forward to seeing you all again this March! ‘Where the Locals Go’ This year WCD is offering a coupon for our plant sale in Sus- tainable Connections’ “Where the Locals Go” coupon book. The coupon will be good on pre-orders and at the open sale in March. Get $5 off of pre-orders and day of sale purchases (minimum purchase applies). Pre-ordering begins now and orders will be ac- cepted until Monday, March 12th. Pre-orders must be for purchases of $100 or more and is great for those of you that need a lot of plants or want to ensure that you get the species that you desire. The open sale is first come, first served and the coupon is good for purchases of $50 or more. This year’s book costs $12 and contains over 250 coupons that amount to over $9,000 in savings. The book helps people in finding products and services at lo- cal businesses and is motivation to support those businesses. It also serves as inspiration to maintain a “be local” lifestyle. If you are interested in volunteering at our plant sale, please contact Kate Lamson at 360-354-2035, ext. 119 or [email protected].

Transcript of 2012 Whatcom conservation district native plant Sale … · 2012 Whatcom conservation district...

19th Annual

SAturdAy, MArch 24, 2012 • 9AM-2pMMiniMuM: A $100 minimum purchase is required with a 50% deposit due upon order place-ment. Most of our plants are sold in bundles of 5 or 10, and a few are sold in individual 4-inch pots.

dEAdLinE: Pre-orders must be received no later than Monday March 12, 2012. Order early-pre-orders are filled in the order received.

picKupS: Friday, March 23, 9am-3:00pm and at the Open Sale, March 24.

prE-OrdErS

2012 Whatcom conservation district

Whatcom Community College Campus, 237 W. Kellogg Rd.

From I-5, take exit 256, head north on Guide Meridian, turn left (west) onto Kellogg Rd and go straight through the round-about. Turn right before the tennis courts and soccer fields at Kelly Hall main parking lot. Sale is held at the Roe Pottery Studio. Parking is available adjacent to the sale at Kelly Hall main parking lot. Alternate entrance: follow W. Kellogg as it bends around to the north and becomes Stuart Road.

dirEctiOnS tO thE pLAnt SALE

On the campus of Whatcom community college

plant Grade and size: Plants are con-servation grade stock, graded on their ability to survive, not on their ornamen-tal value. Seedling plants are not large (generally between 10”- 24” tall), so your order will fit in the trunk or back seat of your car. We will have bags and packing materials available at the sale, or feel free to bring your own.

Availability of plants: We cannot guarantee the availability of all the plants. Uncontrollable situations, crop failure, disease or damage are all factors. If we cannot fill part or all of your order, a plant substitution will be offered.

Order forms and plant descriptions are available on WCD’s website www.what-comcd.org. Payment must be made by cash or check. Information and forms can be requested from the WCD office at (360-354-2035 ext. 3) or e-mail [email protected].

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The WCD’s annual plant sale promotes the stewardship and conservation of our natural resources. Planting native trees and shrubs can provide many positive benefits to your property and the natural environment such as improved water quality, enhanced fish and wildlife habitat, reduction of wind and soil erosion, cleaner air, reduction of energy costs, and beautification! All proceeds from the plant sale support the WCD’s conserva-tion education programs.

Open Sale: plants will be sold individually on a first-come, first-served basis on Saturday March 24th, 9am-2pm. We accept cash or check only.

thank you 2011 plant Sale Vendors and Volunteers

The success of our plant sale de-pends on our great local partners and dedicated volunteers! Thank You!, Special thanks to our Partner and host Whatcom Community College Brian Keeley, Grounds Crew Staff, Fred Tabor and Roe Studio instruc-tors and students.Educational Exhibitors and Agencies: Nooksack Salmon En-hancement Association (NSEA), Washington Native Plant Society, Sustainable Connections, Green Power Program (PSE)Local nurseries and growers: Sunbreak Nursery, Tree Frog Farm, Plantas Nativa, Namaste Gardens, Uprising Seeds, Tuxedo Garden, Squalicum Mountain Ecological RestorationFood and refreshments: Bell-ingham Food Coop -Cordata Store, Trader Joe’s of Bellingham, Belle-wood Acres, StarbucksMusical Guests: The Vibram Souls—Tom Chisholm, Amy Mann, Lynne Givler, Kieth Carpenter and David BeanVolunteers: John Gilles, Seth June , Leif EmbertsonWSu Master Gardeners: Gayle Haines, Kathy Marlowe, Louise Granger, Mary Carlson, Ginny Win-field, JoAnn Reitz, Alden Sievers, Barbara CurrynSEA’s Washington conserva-tion corp crew: Justin Lamb, Sam Wiggins, Rachel Allison, Alexander Vaughn, Stephanie Huck, Ashley GullicksennSEA interns: Colin Riordan, De-van Larson, Suzan Nasona, Tommy Beggs , Peter Fosmire, Lynni Bennettin addition to WCC, organizations and volunteers our sale would be nothing without our customers. WCD would like to give a BIG thank you to all our customers, new and old, who came out and purchased native plants. If it weren’t for y’all, there would be no plant sale. Look-ing forward to seeing you all again this March!

‘Where the Locals Go’This year WCD is offering a coupon for our plant sale in Sus-tainable Connections’ “Where the Locals Go” coupon book. The coupon will be good on pre-orders and at the open sale in

March. Get $5 off of pre-orders and day of sale purchases (minimum purchase applies). Pre-ordering begins now and orders will be ac-cepted until Monday, March 12th. Pre-orders must be for purchases of $100 or more and is great for those of you that need a lot of plants or want to ensure that you get the species that you desire. The open sale is first come, first served and the coupon is good for purchases of $50 or more. This year’s book costs $12 and contains over 250 coupons that amount to over $9,000 in savings.

The book helps people in finding products and services at lo-cal businesses and is motivation to support those businesses. It also serves as inspiration to maintain a “be local” lifestyle.

if you are interested in volunteering at our plant sale, please contact Kate Lamson at 360-354-2035, ext. 119 or [email protected].

native plant Sale descriptions = Wet = Moist = Dry = Well drained = Full sun = Partial sun/shade = Shade = Benefits Pollinators

Tree & Shrub Species Available Note: Plants are native to Whatcom County unless noted otherwise.

Plant Name, common (scientific) Soil Moisture Tol. Range

Light Tolerance Range

Plants for Pollinators

MatureHt.inFt. Features

EvErgrEEn TrEEs

Alaska Yellow Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) 70-100

Usually not found below 2,000 feet elevation. Its blue-green foliage, pendulous branch-es and nonsymmetrical shape make it a popular choice for landscaping. Avoided by deer.

Douglas-Fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii) >200

Deeply fissured, reddish brown bark at maturity. Green to yellow-green needles. Fast growing. Does best in dry, sunny sites.

Grand Fir (Abies grandis) >200

Needles lay flat and are dark green above and silvery beneath. Noted for its fragrant scent.

Noble Fir (Abies procera) >200

Short branches, deeply-fissured bark, blue-green needles, and purplish cones. The largest native true fir. Used for Christmas Trees.

Port Orford Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) <100

Pyramidal shaped evergreen with buttressed trunk. Found on the west coast of Oregon and northern California. Lacy patterned foliage.

Shore Pine (Pinus contorta) 25–40

Usually found locally near saltwater. The deep green needles are twisted – 2 per bundle – and cones are small. Easy and fast growing. Tend to lean over in high wind areas.

Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) >100

Found from Alaska to California. Stiff, sharp, blue-green needles. Fast growing tree with light, strong wood used for pianos, ladders, airplanes, etc.

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) 90->200

One of the most common trees in the Pacific Northwest, a graceful evergreen with a narrow, pyramidal crown; semi-pendulous branches; red-brown, scaly bark; and fine-textured, dark-green needles.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) >100

Widely distributed native. Yellow-green to red-green scale-like leaves and reddish brown bark. Wood is rot resistant. This versatile tree has many uses.

Western White Pine (Pinus monticola) >200

Washington native – mostly found in the northeast region but also along western slope of Cascades and Puget Sound basin. Tall, straight bole with narrow, open crown and feathery blue/green needles in bundles of five. Best suited for well-drained soils. Sus-ceptible to White Pine Blister Rust.

BroadlEaf TrEEsBlack (Suksdorf’s) Hawthorn (Crataegus suksdorfii)

12-30Tree or large shrub with thorns, white flowers and black fruit in August. Excellent wildlife plant - flowers attract butterflies and fruit attracts birds. Forms an impenetrable barrier.

Cascara (Rhamnus or Frangula purshiana)

30-40

Whatcom County native is used in many stream and wetland restoration projects grow-ing in damp to dry soils in full sun to shade. A small tree, in dry years produces colorful fall foliage. Birds are attracted to fruit and the bark is harvested for medicinal purposes. One tree which beaver avoid.

Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia) 75

Western Washington native. Deciduous. Grows rapidly. Its light-green, compound leaves turn yellow in fall. Good in wet areas. Use for landscaping and habitat restora-tion.

Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca) 20-30

Small tree, usually multi-stemmed. Fruits are oblong and can be used to make jelly if you get them before the birds do.

Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) 50-75

Orange-brown or white papery bark. Attractive landscaping tree. Young seedlings are a favored food of deer.

dEciduous shruBsBlack Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) 9

Also called Bearberry honeysuckle. Yellow, tubular flowers and black fruit, which birds love. Grows rapidly.

Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea) 6-24

A large shrub or small tree with flat-topped clusters of fragrant, creamy flowers followed by blue berries. Deciduous leaves are pinnately compound and somewhat persistent.

Indian-Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) 15

One of first plants flowering in spring. Bark is purplish-brown. Pendulous white flow-ers bloom in late winter. Leaves have strong cucumber smell when crushed. Fruit enjoyed by birds.

Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii) 8–10 Sweet smelling white flower in late spring. Hardy and drought tolerant. Easy to grow.

PLACING A PRE-ORDER

$100 MINIMUM PURCHASE REQUIRED. PRE-ORDER DEADLINE FRIDAY, MARCH 12 by 4:00pm. Fill out Pre-Order form completely. Mail or hand deliver to the WCD office with a 50% deposit, cash or check only, checks made payable to WCD.

PICK UP PRE-ORDERS

Friday March 23, 9:00am and 3:00pm at the What-com Community College Campus, Roe Studio by the tennis courts, 237 W. Kellogg Rd. Orders can also be picked up at the Open Sale Saturday March 24 from 9:00am to 2:00pm. (see insert for map and directions or visit www.whatcomcd.org)

SURVEY

To help us learn more about local conservation, please complete this survey.

I plan to use my native plants for:o Creating wildlife & pollinator habitato Installing a hedgerow or windbreako General landscapingo Installing a buffer on my small farm/property

to improve water qualityo Forest stand improvemento Erosion controlo Riparian buffero Wetland restoration

o Other______________________________

TREES & SHRUBS AGE PRICE PER BUNDLE (# per bundle) BUNDLES ORDERED COST

EVErGrEEn/cOniFEr trEES (Bundles of 10 or 5)

Alaska Yellow Cedar Plug $ 12.50 (10) $

Douglas-Fir P-1 $ 12.50 (10) $

Grand Fir 2-0 $ 8.00 (10) $

Noble Fir P-1 $ 12.50 (10) $

Port Orford Cedar 2-0 $ 8.00 (10) $

Shore Pine 2-0 $ 8.00 (10) $

Sitka Spruce P-1 $ 12.50 (10) $

Western Hemlock Plug $ 15.00 (10) $

Western Red Cedar Plug $ 12.50 (10) $

Western White Pine P-1 $ 15.00 (10) $

BrOAdLEAF trEES (Bundles of 5)

Black (Suksdorf’s) Hawthorn 2-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Cascara 2-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Oregon Ash 1-1 $ 10.00 (5) $

Pacific Crabapple 2-0 $ 10.00 (5) $

Paper Birch 2-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

ShruBS (Bundles of 5)

Black Twinberry 1-0 $ 6.25 (5) $

Blue Elderberry 1-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Order form continues on back.

prE-OrdEr FOrM

2012 Wcd native plant Salewww.whatcomcd.org

Name Order Number: (Office use only)

________________________________________________________________________

Address Check Number

________________________________________________________________________

Email/phone (required for order confirmation)

________________________________________________________________________

Add your name to the WCD mailing list? n Yes n No

Mail pre-orders to:

Whatcom Conservation District Office

6975 Hannegan Rd., Lynden, WA 98264

phone: (360) 354-2035 ext 3 Website: www.whatcomcd.org

*Help us save paper: If you prefer receiving your order confirmation through email, please provide your email address above.

ShruBS (continued) (Bundles of 5)

Indian Plum 2-0 $ 10.00 (5) $

Mock Orange 2-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Nootka Rose 2-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Ocean Spray 1-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Peafruit Rose 2-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Red Flowering Currant 1-0 $ 10.00 (5) $

Red Osier Dogwood 1-0 $ 4.00 (5) $

Russett Buffaloberry 1-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Snowberry 1-0 $ 6.25 (5) $

Sweet Gale 2-0 $ 10.00 (5) $

Vine Maple 2-0 $ 7.50 (5) $

Western Serviceberry (Saskatoon) 2-0 $ 10.00 (5) $

SpEciALty pLAntS: perennials/ground covers (individual)

Deer Fern 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

Dwarf Oregon Grape 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

Evergreen Huckleberry 2” Pot $ 4.00 (1) $

Goat’s Beard 1-0 $ 1.00 (1) $

Kinnickinnick 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

Red Huckleberry 2” Pot $ 4.00 (1) $

Salal 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

Sand Strawberry 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

Sea Pink (Thrift) 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

Sedum (Broadleaved) 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

Sedum (Oregon) 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

Western Sword Fern 4” Pot $ 3.00 (1) $

MiScELLAnEOuS

Wildflower Seed Mix Oz. $ 4.00 (1 Oz.) $

48” Bamboo Stake 8-10mm diam. Bundle of 10 $ 2.50 (10) $

Smit’s Compost Bag/ 1cu.ft. $ 3.75 (1) $

Subtotal $

Original coupon must be included with your order to receive discount. Sustainable connection coupon $(- )

8.7% tax $(+)

tOtAL $

50% deposit $

Balance due $

P = Plug: Seedling grown in a plastic tube for 1 year. A plant grown as a plug will develop a more fibrous root system than one grown in the field.

BR = Bare root: seedling with soil removed from roots.

1-0: 1 year old BR plant grown 1 year in a seed bed.

1-1: 2 year old BR plant grown 1 year in a seedbed and 1 year in a transplant bed.

2-0: 2 year old BR plant grown 2 years in a seed bed.

p–1: 2 year old BR plant grown 1 year as a plug and 1 year in a transplant bed.

AVAiLABiLity OF pLAntS

We cannot guarantee the availability of all

pre-order plants. This is a first-come, first-

served sale.

plant Grade terms:

50% Deposit Due at Time of Pre-OrderPayment: Cash or check only (no cash in mail)

Make checks payable to: WCDReturn pre-order to: 6975 Hannegan Road Lynden, WA 98264

Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana) 10

Western native rose grows in lower elevations of WA, showy 3-inch pink flowers. Useful for erosion control, wildlife and barrier plantings.

Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor) 9

A many stemmed shrub that produces plumed clusters of creamy white flowers in early summer. Generally easy to grow. Provides food and cover for wildlife.

Peafruit Rose (Rosa pisocarpa) 6–8

Western native rose with clusters of pink flowers and small red hips. Good for erosion control, wildlife, and barrier plantings.

Red-Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) 10–15

Late winter to early spring bloomer. Considered one of Western Washington’s most beautiful flowering shrubs with pale-pink to deep-red flowers. Will grow near salt water.

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) 10–14

White flower cluster producing white or blue fruit. Bright red bark in the winter. Fast growing. Very adaptable to a variety of sites and easy to grow.

Russet Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) 3-6

Whatcom County Native. Undersides of leaves and young branches covered with cin-namon colored spots. Female plants produce a bitter tasting red berry.

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) 6

Whatcom County Native. Persistent white fruit provides winter food source for wildlife. Provides good soil stabilization. Tolerates salt spray.

Sweet Gale (Myrica gale) <5

Western Washington native wetland, perennial shrub which is an important nitrogen-fixer. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. Aromatic. Spreads by suckers.

Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) 15–25

Green bark. Fall foliage varies from yellow to scarlet-red. Grow as a multi-stemmed shrub or as a small tree.

Western (Saskatoon) Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

6-20Compact clusters of fragrant, showy white flowers emerge just before small, light-green, oval leaves appear. The small, sweet, edible blue berries ripen by early summer. Fall color is orange to red. Grows best in well-drained soils.

spEcialTy planTs/pErEnnials/groundcovErs

Broadleaved Sedum (Sedum spathulifolium) <1

Mat forming perennial with succulent silvery-white leaves occurring in tight rosettes. Star-like flowers are bright yellow, open clusters on flowering stems two to eight inches high. Drought tolerant and thought to be deer resistant. The flowers attract butterflies.

Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) 3

Whatcom County native. Medium size evergreen fern with two kinds of leaves. Sterile leaves lie close to the ground and spore bearing leaves grow upward.

Dwarf Oregon Grape (Mahonia or Berberis nervosa) 2

Pinnate leaved evergreen shrub. Leaves are dark green with sharp points. Yellow fragrant flowers followed by blue berries.

Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) 6-8

A many branched, evergreen shrub with leathery oval leaves, shiny above and paler beneath. Pink, bell-shaped flowers are followed by dark, edible berries. New growth in the spring is coppery red.

Goat’s Beard (Bride’s Feathers) (Aruncus dioicus)

3-5Perennial with large, feathery clusters of small, white flowers blooming in late spring. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, male flowers being more at-tractive.

Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) <1

Whatcom County native. Ground-hugging evergreen with white flowers and red ber-ries. Grows well on rocky, exposed sites.

Oregon Sedum (Sedum oreganum) <0.5

A native perennial, succulent herb found along rocky ledges and ridges at low- to mid-elevations along forest edges. Yellow flowers.

Red Huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium) 3-12

A graceful shrub with slim branches, bright yellow-green leaves and sparkling-red ber-ries.

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) 2–5

Broadleaf evergreen groundcover. Flowers are white to pink and the edible, berry-like fruit is nearly black when ripe.

Sand Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) 0.5-1

Creeping perennial groundcover, with large edible berries. Spreads by sending out red-dish stems that root and form new plants. It prefers partial shade and well-drained soil.

Sea (Thrift Sea) Pink (Armeria meritima) 1-2

Low maintenance, drought and salt tolerant, perennial. Forms a six- to 12-inch cush-ion-like, mound of dark-green grass-like leaves. Bright pink, purple, white or red flow-ers are borne on tall stems.

Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) 2–3 A large, tufted evergreen Western Washington native fern. Easy to grow.

MiscEllanEous

Wildflower Seed Mix 2-3Includes perennials, annuals and biennials in white, yellow, blue, orange, red, purple, and pink.

48" Bamboo StakesSTAKE ONLY: Bamboo stakes are needed for securing “Blue tubes.” Blue tubes will NOT be for sale this year. We will be offering used blue tubes for FREE at the plant sale (depending on availability). Tubes protect seedlings from rodents, mowers and herbicide drift. Also useful for protecting tomatoes and other veggie starts.

Smit’s Compost Compost- Main ingredients are dairy manure and wood shaving from stall bedding. The compost is free of weed seeds and pathogens and is virtually odorless. We will be offering 1-cubic foot bags. 1 c.f. bag will cover a 2 x 2 area, 3" deep; 1 x 2 area, 6" deep; 1 x 1 area, 12" deep.

In order to farm for crop pollinators, it is important to know the habitat on your farm. Native bees need both food and shelter; they eat only pollen and nectar and nest in tunnels or in the ground. In the process of gathering pollen and nec-tar, bees move pollen from one flower to another, and thus pollinate your crops.

Bees rely upon an abundance and variety of flowers, and need blooming plants throughout the growing season. Native bees don’t build the wax or paper structures we associate with honey bees or wasps, but they do need places to nest, which vary depending on the species. Wood-nesting bees are solitary, often making individual nests in beetle tunnels in standing dead trees.

Ground-nesting bees include solitary species that construct nest tunnels under the ground. Cavity-nesting social species, bumble bees, make use of small spaces, such as abandoned rodent burrows, wherever they can find them.

To encourage pollinators, look for areas on and around your land that can support native bees.

hedgerows or WindbreaksHedgerows having a wide variety of plants with overlap-ping flowering periods will provide bee habitat throughout the growing season and strengthen populations of natural enemies of crop pests.

riparian BuffersHabitat along streams should contain a diversity of plants. Willows, in particular, will nourish bumble bee queens in the spring so that large numbers of workers are available when crops begin to bloom.

natural or undeveloped AreasNearby natural areas may harbor all the native bees needed to pollinate your farm’s crops.

Artificial nestsMaking bee blocks for wood-nesting bees is a good way to increase the number of native bees in your landscape.

SnagsKeeping dead trees standing provides shelter for native bees. Some solitary bees build nests in abandoned beetle tunnels in snags.

Field and road BordersLeave areas next to fields untilled and unsprayed to support flowering plants and provide nest sites for ground-nesting bees.

cover cropsFlowering plants-certain legumes in particular-can be in-cluded in cover crop mixes to supply pollen and nectar.

temporary Bee pasturePlanting fields with canola or other inexpensive seed-or allow-ing crops such as lettuce, kale, basil, and broccoli to bolt-will supply bees with nectar and pollen.

GardensA vegetable, flower or herb garden, with a diverse assortment of plants, is a good source of food for pollinators. Be wary of fancy hybrids that may produce little pollen or nectar.

Fallow FieldsEven small areas of fallow or unproductive land, especially when sown with native flowers, can offer important resources for native bees.

pollinators: Know the habitat on your Farm Reprinted with permission from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, (edited for space).

In Whatcom County pollinators are essential for commercial crops such as Raspberries, Blueberries and Strawberries as well as for much of the food produced in home gardens. The pollinator role is primarily filled by European Honey Bees and native bees. As colonies of European Honey bees decline and become more expensive the role of native bees is becoming more important. Creating or maintaining a little native bee habitat in your farm or yard may pay big dividends in increased crop yields.

More information on pollinators can be found at http://www.xerces.org. For information on Hedgerows, Riparian Buffers or Pollinator Plant Selection call the WCD at 360-354-2035, ext.3.