POLLINATOR HABITAT GARDEN

A habitat garden provides a natural ecosystem to improve and sustain available food, water and cover for native wildlife.

This includes a place in the landscape for traditional insect pollinators (and their larval stages) as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians and even small mammals. Habitat gardens serve as a valuable resource in a time of declining wildlife habitat while promoting curiosity, engagement and enjoyment in their human visitors.

The habitat garden encompasses approximately 950 square feet of planting space with pathways surrounding and one pathway meandering through the site. Three large shrubs and approximately 200 native perennials representing 18 species were installed within a matrix of native grasses, sedges and a “green” or “living mulch” of native groundcovers. Space for other wildlife habitat elements is included, such as bare ground, sticks, mud, and sand. Adjacent newly installed insect houses built and installed by a Boy Scout will complement the garden.

A complete list of plants with supplementary information is available here.

There are opportunities for volunteers to contribute to getting the habitat garden established:

• Starting spring 2025: 4-8 volunteer hours/week for watering and monitoring the site. Monitoring includes evaluating plant health, watching for habitat utilization, and invasive species surveillance.

• Periodic larger management events may be needed twice per year: Minimal “cleanup” of a habitat garden site is required compared to traditional formal gardens. Sites are intentionally kept “messy” (e.g., berries and seed heads left throughout winter as a food source, dead stems left as insect nesting sites, dormant grasses left for wildlife cover, fallen leaves left under plants). However, invasive species will need to be addressed quickly. We also anticipate addition of wood chips, pruning of select species, and potential plant replacement seasonally to yearly.