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Maricopa Native Seed Library: Comprehensive Level

Comprehensive Level

This is the most in-depth level of participation in the Maricopa Pollinator Pathway and is ideal for:

  • those that are experienced with pollinator gardening 
  • those with large spaces
  • those that have been gardening at the contributing or core level and want to take it to the next level
  • those that have the time/resources to devote to a high level of pollinator gardening

Read our FAQ to learn more about the habitat guidelines and how to implement them, and watch for much more in the way of educational materials to be added.

 

COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL GUIDELINES

 

COMPONENTS GUIDELINES
Physical conditions in your habitat (abiotic conditions) 

Provides at least 4-6 hours of sunlight per day

Only disturb soil if you are planting

Provide a sunny, sparsely planted area of bare ground for nesting habitat  

Provide at least two other types of nesting habitat (ex: plant basins, stem cuttings, dead trees or other dead plant material, stacked bricks, stone or block wall with holes)

Provide a fresh water source

Gardening practices you engage in (cultural practices)

Use non pesticide means for controlling the pests in your garden*

Be accepting of plant damage by the target pollinators (caterpillars become butterflies and moths)

Remove invasive species in your landscape

Engage in at least two other cultural practices (see FAQ)

Plantings (plants represented in your habitat)

Have continuous pollen/nectar availability, with 9 or more pollen/nectar species from the plant list (at least 3 blooming per season)

Have at least 7 larval host plant species from the plant list  including desert/rush milkweed (Asclepias subulata)

Include at least 2 species that attract hummingbirds

Have plantings or groupings of the same species that will mature to at least 3 feet diameter

Strive to have at least 70% of your host and nectar plants from the plant list 

Provide bird nesting habitat: at least 1 native tree > 6 feet, and/or thorny shrubs that discourage predators (wolfberry, hackberry)

Apply for certification at this level (links to online form) When applying it will be handy to have the FAQ and plant list available.  

Learn how to setup your habitat by watching this recorded workshop

 

Expert panel

These pollinator habitat guidelines were developed by the following expert panel:

 

Natalie Case, Education Programs Developer, Center for Native and Urban Wildlife, Scottsdale Community College

Jennifer Foltz-Sweat, Biology Faculty, Gateway Community College

Adriane Grimaldi, Director of Education, Butterfly Wonderland: A rainforest experience 

Kaitlin Haase, Southwest Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Carrie Lipka, Lab Supervisor, Mesa Community College

Meridith Masoner, Facebook site administrator, Pollinator Gardening in the Southwest

Angela McIntire, Statewide Bat Specialist, Arizona Fish and Game Department

Pam McMillie, Vice President, Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society

Gail Morris, Coordinator, Southwest Monarch Study

Lisa Rivera, President, Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society

George Roark, Author of PollinatorWeb.com

Ron Rutowski, President, Central Arizona Butterfly Association

Cathy Wise, Community Science Manager, Audubon Southwest