Pollinator plants . Bee - friendly plants . flora with a purpose . Although even a quick Google hunting of any of these category will lead in almost limitless lists of plants and garden advise , all too often the inclination and call are not necessarily supported by honorable scientific data point . Compounding the problem , these list frequently include aboriginal species that are not commercially usable .
With a finish of providing accurate entropy to consumers via their retail garden centres suppliers , OMAFRA ’s Dr. Sarah Jandricic and summer student Famke Alberts have undertaken a enquiry labor design to answer the doubt : Is there a part for non - aboriginal plants in the pollinator landscape ?
“ We hope the answer will be yes , ” says Sarah . “ Ideally , our inquiry solvent will help garden nerve center take dear advantage of this important movement . ”
Sarah Jandricic and Famke Alberts
“ Aesthetics are always of import , ” adds Famke , “ but consumer research understandably shows that millennials , who are currently ride this trend , are interested in plants with a purpose and they will pay a agiotage price for them . ”
A continuation of two previous years of inquiry at the University of Guelph ’s test gardens which are no longer useable , beginning in the springiness of 2020 , the project will be located at the Landscape Ontario site in Milton . The labor will study the attractiveness of eight exotic plants and eight nativars to a multifariousness of pollinators , including butterfly stroke , deal honeybees , aboriginal bumble bees and various pollinating flies and beetle .
The experiment ’s intention , explains Famke , includes assemblages – or groupings – of either all nativar or all alien plants – much like a homeowner might grow . Eight flora species of either type were planted 4 x 2 m garden secret plan ( with more or less 1 m x 1 m for each individual plant species ) . With four garden each of aboriginal and alien plants to watch , that ’s going to be a lot of pollinator to reckon ! The entire pollinator trial garden , measure out 20 m by 20 m in total , will also let in variety testing garden around the perimeter . The site will be bring down by Famke and another OMAFRA summertime scholarly person on appropriately cheery day , when they will observe and record the act and types of pollinator that inflict the plants . Their observations will be support by photo and videos , to enable them to properly key all pollinator , especially bees native to Ontario
“ As far as we have sex , this is the only research of its kind in Canada , ” says Sarah Jandricic . “ It closely resemble and will stick out like research work underway at Michigan State University .
“ This project is complementary to the inquiry workplace that is presently being carry on by Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Saxena , ” she adds . “ Their project objective is to breed fresh native excerption suitable for commercial-grade production , which could ultimately aid tolerate native pollinators ,
while our own labor seeks to key plants already commercially usable that have the same effect . ”
The enquiry team extends their earnest perceptiveness to Landscape Ontario for their backup of this project . Further project results will be reported in future issues of COHA Connections
A particular thank - you to the labor ’s collaborators : Rodger Tschanz , Trial Garden Manager , University of GuelphDr . Al Sullivan , Professor , University of GuelphDr . Elsa Youngstead , Assistant Professor , Applied Ecology , North Carolina State University ( helping with the bee ID from photo , as well as statistical analyses)OMAFRA Summer Students Famke Alberts and Michael Boucher ( part of the OMAFRA Summer Employment Opportunities program ) .
origin : cohaconnections.ca
