Celebrate ‘Growing Wild’ season with native plants: Where to find info and free pollinator kits
The state’s Growing Wild initiative seeks to help pollinators. Photo by Janet DiMattia
Native plants help support native wildlife, and this healthy ecosystem approach is being embraced by the state of Massachusetts. Governor Maura Healey recently proclaimed May 29th as “Growing Wild Massachusetts Day,” kicking off the sixth season of the Growing Wild initiative, which seeks to help bees, butterflies and other pollinators that plants depend on to reproduce and thrive.
This season, Growing Wild will distribute pollinator kits at 21 nurseries and six Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) parks. The campaign will also continue partnerships with Tribal communities in Massachusetts to provide kits that include native plant species of cultural significance to Tribal communities.
The pollinator kits, available while supplies last, include two one-gallon native perennial plants. native seed packets, educational resources on pollinator-friendly gardening and a Growing Wild Massachusetts sticker.
Pollinator kits on Cape Cod
On Cape Cod, participating nurseries include Hart Farm Nursery and Garden Center (21 Upper County Rd., Dennis Port) and Mahoney’s Garden Center (958 East Falmouth Hwy., East Falmouth).
The pollinator kits will also be available at a DCR Growing Wild event at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (131 Waquoit Highway, East Falmouth) on Saturday June 13th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Last year, Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) summer intern Lucy Palmer helped plant a new pollinator garden at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve.
Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) has been a longtime supporter of native planting efforts. Last year, HCT volunteers led by Karen and Gerry Beetham planted a fantastic pollinator garden at the trailhead of the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve, and it’s well worth a visit to see how the space has flourished as warmer times arrived this season.
Additional resources
There are also plenty of local resources to help you on a native plant journey in your garden or yard. Here are some of our favorites:
Town of Harwich Conservation Department Native Plant Guide: click here.
Our fellow land trust in Eastham, the Eastham Conservation Foundation, has established native plants at Joe’s Garden on one of its protected preserves. They have created two comprehensive spreadsheets detailing native plant characteristics and diagrams of their approach to seeing colorful blooms in spring, summer and fall. Here’s a link to their two planting documents:
Native plants add beauty to your yard and can be easy to maintain. Photo courtesy Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC)
—Native full sun/part shade plants and diagrams
—Native shade/part shade trees and shrubs
Kristin Andres, Director of Education & Outreach for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) provided HCT with fantastic and easy pollinator garden tips in a recent story, which you can read by clicking here.
With gardening season in full swing, it’s the perfect time to welcome some beneficial native plants into your yard. The bees and butterflies will thank you!
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—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.