Creating Habitat for Pollinators

Last weekend, with the help of some fantastic members of our community, we installed our first pollinator garden at Great Hollow. It is estimated that pollinators are responsible for producing one out of every three bites of food that we take! Yet, habitat loss and pesticides have caused steep population declines in many ecologically and economically important pollinators, such as butterflies and bees, so they need all the help they can get.  Comprised entirely of native pollinator-friendly plants, our garden will provide high-quality habitat for pollinators at Great Hollow while also serving as a new tool for us to use in our environmental education programs. Interpretive signage will soon be installed so the public may also visit the garden and learn about the natural history of monarch butterflies and the overall importance of other pollinator species. Be sure to check it out the next time you come by. The garden is located between the visitor’s parking area and red trail kiosk, directly across the driveway from the Merritt House.

A big thank you to all who came out last weekend to get their hands and knees dirty for the love of pollinators! Funding for plants and other materials was generously provided by a grant from the Environmental Professionals’ Organization of Connecticut. We also thank Claire’s Garden Center in Patterson, NY for their generous donation of many additional beautiful, pollinator-friendly plants for our garden.