The Pollinator Garden was created in 2022 as an effort to take part in caring for the environment. Prior to this time, the slope to the cemetery in the back of the meeting house was grass, providing little benefit to pollinators. Small grants by the Endangered Species Coalition help us to add native plants to the garden, label them and use this space for encouraging attention to declining pollinators. Several educational activities have focused on actions we can also take in our own yards, including adding native plants and eliminating pesticides. The church library has added some very helpful books. Native plants are particularly important in providing host plants for butterfly larvae. Bees also have preferences for particular plants. Non-native plants do also provide pollen and nectar, but sometimes crowd out more beneficial plants. Monarchs are especially in decline and rely on the milkweed family of plants. You may enjoy checking out the labels on our plants for new ideas. This garden is a good example of decreased time in committees, but the ability of individuals to take on a project that excites them.
Creating the Pollinator Garden, April 30, 2022
The Pollinator Garden is now in its fourth year. Stop by at the back of the meeting house by the cemetery wall to see what is going on in the pollinator garden! Although designed for pollinators, it’s a place where humans can enjoy the fragrant and peaceful beauty as well!
New native plants have been added. If you would like these new plants for your own yard, they were purchased at Tri-County Greenhouses at 290 Middle Turnpike (Rte. 44) Mansfield. Tri-County is a non-profit agency providing paid training and work experience to the intellectually disabled community. They raise all of their own plants from seed and carry plants year round.
Native Plants: What’s the matter with plants that are not native? Non-native plants here and there can provide pollinators with energy, however if they spread to large patches (like purple loose-strife), spread seeds (like butterfly bush), or wrap their vines on other plants (like English ivy and wisteria), they displace native vegetation. By competing with native plants they reduce potential host plants and decrease plants that are part of the life cycle for that region.
The new plants are known by the common names: False aster, swamp milkweed, narrow leaf mountain mint, New England aster and bee balm or wild bergamot.
