When you bite into a juicy strawberry each spring, you should not only thank the local farmer who grew it, but also pollinators, without which this delight would likely not exist.
There are many different types of pollinators in Massachusetts, from bees to butterflies to hummingbirds. They help plants reproduce by spreading pollen among plants of the same species.
With the help of our volunteer Garden Crew and Corporate Conservationists, we prepped Cox Reservation garden beds last year in anticipation of installing native pollinator plants this spring.
The theory “many hands make light work” proved to be true as groups from Cell Signaling Technology and Affiliated Managers Group removed invasives and non-native plants in the heat of the summer, pulling many of these plants by hand.
Greenbelt’s Stewardship Department is redoing four of our garden beds and enhancing another. We have selected a variety of host plants for butterflies and moths, as well plants to attract native bees and hummingbirds.
Some beds, including our peonies, have plants that Allyn Cox planted and that we are going to keep.
Consultant Katie Banks Hone is volunteering her time to help select and cultivate plants that are native to this area down to the ecotype; meaning they are native plants grown from seeds harvested from the wild areas of Essex County.
This spring, Greenbelt volunteers will be planting these native species to implement our plan. Stop by and watch our progress!