Educational Resources

“ Supporting Native Bee Nesting Habitats”

Presentation by Kris Ethington as part of Kul Kah Han's 2025 Summer Speaker Series 7/12/25

Ecological gardening starts with planting native plants, especially keystone species, ensuring continuous blooms throughout the seasons, from late winter through October. Our gardens tell a story about us, from site location to plant selection. Many gardeners create bird and butterfly habitats, but have you ever wondered about the diversity of native bees pollinating your plants? Bee pollinators are crucial for healthy ecosystems, contributing to the production of fruits and nuts that support wildlife. Most native bees in North America are solitary, not social, with females working independently to construct and provision their nests to raise a small number of offspring, flying as adults just few weeks to a couple of months. When, where and how exactly do these wild pollinators nest to raise offspring. As gardeners, we have an opportunity to support native bee populations by providing natural habitats for ground, cavity, or stem nesting native bees that go well beyond flowers for adults. Join our speaker, Kris Ethington, Washington Native Bee Society member, ecological gardener, and local citizen scientist who has valuable insights based on her research and observational experience in the Olympic Peninsula. She will share her 3-year wild bee survey data from iNaturalist.org, providing a basis for understanding local bee populations, ground nesting behaviors, and plant/pollinator interactions in the wild and the garden - including direct observations from the Kul Kah Han Native Plant Garden.