Master Gardeners: The magic of night gardens

By Christine March

While you are tucked into your bed, dreaming the night away, the night shift is working its magic in your garden. Who are these magicians? They are the pollinators and beneficial creatures who get to work when the lights go down.

We are all familiar with the various pollinators that visit our gardens during the day, but many of us are unaware of the pollinators and creatures that do their work in the dark.

Not all nighttime pollinators are as pretty and photogenic as the daytime crew. Let’s be honest; moths, beetles and bats can’t hold a candle to butterflies, hummingbirds, and dragonflies, but their contributions are no less valuable. Like their diurnal (daytime) colleagues, these nocturnal creatures also need our support to ensure their survival.

Consider the humble and, dare I say, under- appreciated moth. Ontario boasts over 3,300 species of moths, many of which are important pollinators. During their nighttime nectar-foraging missions, moths collect pollen on their hairy underbellies which is then disbursed throughout the garden.

Do you consider beetles a friend or a foe in your garden? How about fireflies? Fun Fact: fireflies (Lampyridae) are members of the beetle family. Ontario boasts the largest population of fireflies in Canada with most found here in Southern Ontario. Fireflies are important nighttime visitors to our gardens. Their enchanting bioluminescence is a mating tactic used primarily by males to attract willing females. The larvae (aka “glow worms”) are ferocious predators that eat slugs, snails and earthworms. While fireflies bedazzle us with their evening light show, their cousins, the soldier beetles, are quietly feasting on aphids and pollinating flowers.

When I say the word “bat” you might immediately think of Dracula and horror movies, but I hope you will also take a moment to appreciate how important these harmless creatures are to our natural world. These apex predators help control harmful insect populations which can devastate gardens and agricultural crops. Sadly, four of the eight bat species native to Ontario are endangered. Bat populations have been decimated by habitat loss and the fungal disease White Nose Syndrome.

All pollinators are essential to human survival and most are under threat. So what can we, as home gardeners, do?

Canadian author Lorraine Johnson has written several books on ecological gardening and is a vocal advocate for all pollinators. In her writings, Lorraine highlights several actions we can take to protect beneficial insect and animal populations, one of which is to reduce ALAN.

If you’re not familiar with ALAN, you’re not alone. ALAN is an acronym that stands for Artificial Light at Night. These light sources can confuse insects and animals, disrupt their mating and foraging instincts, and ultimately reduce their populations. If you have exterior lights on a fixed timer, consider switching to a motion-activated system.