Much of humankind’s food, and even greater proportions of food for wildlife. depend on pollinators, pollinators that are being threatened by continued expansion of human development into the natural spaces they need. Pesticide use on lawns, in gardens, and in agriculture is destroying their habitat and contributing to their collapse.
Many people are becoming aware of the risks associated with pollinator collapse and are responding by planting organic native flowers, shrubs, and trees to provide food and habitat for pollinators and other creatures, as well as enhanced environment for humans.
We have begun a pollinator corridor along the MRG. With funding from the Robert F. Church Charitable Trust, we are planting a string of pollinator gardens, fruit trees, and berry bushes for bees, butterflies, birds, and even hungry humans.
Two gardens are already well-underway:
*A pollinator garden in the “Pocket Park” adjacent to Mascoma Falls and to the tunnel, behind Goss-Logan Insurance.
* A small pollinator meadow on the Goss-Logan hillside.
* A pollinator garden at the MRG access at the intersection of Mascoma/Mechanic/High streets. (Common milkweed, Queen Anne’s lace and goldenrod were already in place.)
Milkweed, liatris, fleabane, coneflowers, New England asters, yarrow, hyssop, borage, Queen Anne’s lace, goldenrod, and rudbeckia
Monarch on Milkweed
* Red Osier Dogwoods will be planted by the bench that honors Leo McKenna (near the APD/MRG parking lot)
* A pollinator garden is being planted next to the new, easy-access parking lot west of the underpass by APD Hospital.
* Upper Valley Apple Corps has helped scout out places for fruit trees and berry bushes along the western end of the MRG with hopes to begin planting this Fall. (Read more on this.)
Resources for planting for pollinators:
NH List for Planting for Pollinators
VT List for Planting for Pollinators
Pollinator-friendly Plants for the Northeast United States
