Native Gardening in the Willamette Valley

How native plants can support local pollinators and wildlife

My name is Karli Del Biondo , and I live in Milwaukie , Oregon , which is part of the Willamette Valley . I am a cardiac nanny , aboriginal gardener , and blogger.(Check out her Instagram@beetles_and_bees ) . Ihave been gardening for more than twenty yr and have always been a lover of the lifelike world . When my hubby and I bought a 1960s house three years ago , I started garden with plant native to my area . The dimension had several largeconifers , include four Western reddish cedars , which are native to the Pacific Northwest . I started working to create a aboriginal understory , then slowly began bring in native perennial . My interest innative gardeningcame from a desire to support our local nativepollinatorsand wildlife , which depend on aboriginal flora for survival . My aboriginal garden now control over 100 specie of plant life aboriginal to the Portland and Clackamas County area , and provides home ground in a variety of way forwildlife .

fancy here is our native Pacific ninebark , Physocarpuscapitatus(Zones 4–8 ) , which holds four - season interest and attracts a variety of native bees . The peelingbark(hence the name ninebark ) is beautiful and most seeable during winter . Many of our aboriginal birds take cover here . This was actually my very first aboriginal and is now over 10 years sure-enough .

One manner I am able to provide habitat is through the purpose of nanny logs , which trifle an crucial role in ecosystem appendage , one of which is providing a piazza where our native pit nesting bee ( 30 % of our native bee population ) can repose their ballock . They also seem beautiful as part of the natural landscape . Many of my nurse log have licorice fern and recurrent indigene such as candyflower(Claytoniasibirica , Zones 3–7 ) , which are often seen rise on top or inside of nanny log .

Recently , a house in the vicinity was “ riffle , ” and part of that process unfortunately let in bulldozing the front yard , which had 50 - year - old sword ferns(Polystichummunitum , zone 3–8 ) , to interchange with lawn . We were able to deliver these beautiful native sword fern ( fifteen in total ! ) and incorporate them into our aboriginal landscape . After spend a twelvemonth stunt , they have come back this class in their former nimbus . I like to think the elderly woman who used to survive in the business firm where they originated would be happy if she knew they are still being fondly care for in a nearby garden , allow for much - ask habitat for overwintering pollinators and wildlife . As anevergreen , they never develop old , they look beautiful year - orotund , and they love the acidic soil beneath our conifer .

Here is one of our native pollinator , a metal swither bee , which is a ground - nuzzle bee . We have provide bare soil in various places in our garden for them to nest . Often , little hole in the bare soil are seeable – an reading our ground nesters have find a place to lay their eggs ! We try not to take the air near our bare ground sites . This one is enjoying the nectar from our native Pacific ninebark , Physocarpus capitatus , which has these beautiful white clusters of blooms in spring ( it was in full blush on Mother ’s Day ) . We observed close to 10 aboriginal bee species this year on our Pacific ninebark alone !

For the shadier area of our native garden , there are many beautiful natives from which to choose . Pictured here is our native oxalis(Oxalisoregana , Zones 6–9 ) , which is mixing well with native dame fern(Athyrium filix - femina , Zones 4–8 ) .

Native bumblebee on common snowberry(Symphoricarposalbus , Zones 3–7 ) . Our faggot bumblebee need overwintering sites like brush piles in the garden , as well as early - blossom natives like this one , to support them nutritionally once they come forth from hibernation in tardy winter or early springiness . If there ’s a place in your garden where you may leave a brush pile , our overwintering pollinators and other wildlife will find it good .

Here is our beautiful native red - twig dogwood(Cornussericea , zona 3–7 ) which is a joy no matter what the time of year , and plausibly one of my favorites . This one is almost 15 year former ( we brought it with us when we moved ) . I know it so much that I have planted several more on our place ! Spectacularfall colorgives right smart to sensational red twigs over winter , then beautiful green leaves come out in spring , espouse before long by clustering of blank flowers and white berries , which our aboriginal doll get laid to eat on . This one is gentle topropagate by hardwood cuttingsor by seed , which I often do for friends and neighbors .

Native Oregon grape(Mahoniaaquifolium , Zones 5–8 ) , our state efflorescence , is an evergreen plant with burnished yellow flowers emerging in late February or early March . The “ grapes ” are somewhat bitter when eat on raw , but you could make lovely Oregon grapevine jelly , tincture , or infused round-eyed sirup to mix with keynote urine on a spicy summer day . Nativebirdssuch as towhees , robins , sparrows , and waxwings get it on the berries . This plant is lovely year - round and is good to wildlife and pollinators .

Native gardening has been honour on so many levels for me , including giving me a chance to link up daily with nature in my own 1000 . With its native plants , our yard is now attractive to many coinage that I was ineffectual to observe when I was focus on exotics and other nonnatives . Our native species evolved in unique way to support local ecosystems . Most native bees are specialist , demand sure works , or even one plant , to survive . Many natives serve as host plant for specific butterfly metal money , such as the monarch butterfly , for which rough-cut milkweed is a host . What we plant in our garden matter , and yard by yard , we can help reinstate some of the home ground that was lose when neighborhoods and cities were built .

Have pic to partake ? We ’d love to see your garden , a particular collection of industrial plant you love , or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit !

To defer , broadcast 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photo . We ’d love to hear where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , successes you are majestic of , failures you learned from , hopes for the future , favorite plant , or funny chronicle from your garden .

If you want to get off photos in freestanding emails to theGPOD email boxthat is just fine .

Have a mobile phone ? trail your pic onFacebook , InstagramorTwitterwith # FineGardening !

You do n’t have to be a professional garden photographer – match out ourgarden photography tip !

Do you receive the GPOD by electronic mail yet?Sign up here .

okay Gardening urge Products

The Nature of oak : The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees

Fine horticulture receives a commission for items purchased through links on this land site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate ad programs .

Planting in a Post - unfounded domain : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

Pruning simplify : A Step - by - stair Guide to 50 Popular Trees and bush

Get our a la mode tips , how - to article , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

sign you up …

Great Native Plants for Western Gardens

Great Native Plants for the Northwest

Best Native Woodies for the Northwest

Your Guide to Native Plants in the Midwest

bring together Fine horticulture for a free engaging bouncy webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned flora pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical handler …

When I spotted a particular sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delicious color pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we need over plants our landscape needs , each time of year is occupy with a never - end list of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , amend , and fertilizing , with …

Pacific Ninebark

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden decorator Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to actuate on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a twosome …