Spring Buzz 2021 -- native plantS, webinars, reading list, BIKE TOUR!

After a winter of hibernation, as residents plan gardens and turn sights to warmer days, the Natural Resources Commission, Sustainable Wellesley, and Wellesley Conservation Land Trust are teaming up for Pollinate Wellesley, a series of programs and activities aimed at making the town more hospitable to pollinators, birds and other wildlife essential to a healthy ecosystem. Native insects rely on native plant species, and “pollinator corridors” help butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial insects travel through the landscape by providing them with food and shelter along their way. The goal of the Pollinate Wellesley initiative is to make it easy for residents to create this healthy habitat in their own yards and expand these
pollinator corridors.

Activities will kick off with a native plant sale hosted by Sustainable Wellesley in conjunction with the Native Plant Trust, the country’s first plant conservation organization. Beginning now through April 9, residents can pre-order carefully chosen plant collections at a 15% discount, and conveniently pick the plants up in Wellesley on June 19. Visit SustainableWellesley.com for more information.

A three-part educational speaker series on native gardening featuring topics on the unique ecological relationships between species, creating a native garden, and healthy yard care practices will take place via Zoom at 7PM on April 29, May 6 and May 13, respectively, and are available for registration at Wellesley Conservation Land Trust.

Downloadable maps will lead the way for a Pedals to Petals self-guided biking and walking tour of residents’ native gardens throughout Wellesley, which will also include stops at the Town’s Central Park and Police Station Pollinator gardens when flowers are in full bloom later this
summer.

No room or time for a garden but still want to help our pollinators? The NRC will be offering planters in exchange for participation in a fun citizen-science documentation project suitable for all ages. Contact NRC@wellesleyma.gov for more information.

Wellesley's Department of Public Works (DPW) has designated several open spaces in town as Green Zones, which will be cared for with electric landscaping equipment to eliminate the harmful carbon emissions associated with gas-powered mowers and leaf blowers. The transition to Green Zone maintenance practices will start this spring and summer with the purchase of additional battery powered equipment. 

These Green Zones, along with all other Town-owned properties, will include a preference for native plantings and will be maintained with a lighter hand whenever possible and practical. These earth friendly practices include using safe alternatives that protect delicate pollinators, children and pets and serve as a model for local households as well. 

“Conservation starts in our yards,” according to renowned entomologist Doug Tallamy, and “we are nature's best hope,” in building food corridors to sustain our important pollinators, which in turn sustain us.

Pollinate Wellesley and be part of Wellesley’s Pollinator Corridor! To learn more about events, email NRC@WellesleyMA.gov or visit WellesleyMA.gov/NRC.