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Pollinator Pathway Quiet Waters Park Welcome to the Quiet Waters Park Pollinator Pathway! We are a 359 acre park run by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation & Parks with over one million visitors a year. The Friends of Quiet Waters Park worked with the park to get it on the Pathway as it is a pesticide-free habitat offering meadows of pollinator plants, several planned gardens of native plants, and many acres of forested woodlands. The park borders the South River and Harness Creek with a view of the Chesapeake Bay beyond, beckoning birds and Monarchs to stop and refuel along the Atlantic flyway. Full of native bees, butterflies, other pollinating insects and wildlife, Quiet Waters attracts visitors to walk along its many. trails, exploring nature and our local ecology up close. We hope you will come experience all the beauty of our environment and leave having learned more about the importance of native plants and trees to protecting wildlife and our pollinators. Below five areas of specific appeal to pollinators are highlighted. Gardens at Quiet Waters Park Pathway Reading & Butterfly Gardens The Reading & Butterfly Gardens is an interactive watershed education experience. Featuring environmentally sensitive design solutions, this outdoor classroom includes a rain garden area to filter stormwater runoff. This habitat is replete with native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials offering nectar and food for insects, larval plants for caterpillars, and shelter for butterflies, moths and bees. There are a variety of berries for birds and a "bee hotel" nearby. Reading nooks provide contemplative spaces for children and adults to enjoy this naturalistic setting. This project was developed in conjunction with Garrett's Light. Pollinator Meadows Currently Quiet Waters Park has two acres of meadows containing numerous stands of milkweed, grasses and other pollinator friendly plants such as Goldenrod, Boneset and Joe-Pye. This area is never mowed. Part of the meadows backs up to a swampy area where Spring Peeper frogs create a loud chorus of song in the Spring. A series of monitored Eastern bluebird nesting boxes are located next to the meadows and 118 babies hatched in 2021! Native Garden in Compost Area Located just beyond our Compost Demonstration Area, these garden beds are maintained by Maryland Master Gardeners. There are numerous beds of carefully labeled native plants. These signs provide information to visitors on the needs and size of each plant, the bloom time, and whether sun or shade is best. The mission is to educate the public on the array of native plants that could be grown in home gardens to help the environment and attract pollinators. The Master Gardeners also periodically demonstrate how to set up and maintain a compost area in backyards. New Pollinator Native Plant Meadow Over the summer of 2021 the horticulturalist, his staff and the Park Rangers began work creating a new two acre meadow from a former open grass field. Turning over the soil multiple times with a tractor (without using any herbicides) prepared the area for planting a winter cover crop of rye seeds. This was then followed by planting an Ernst Seeds Mesic to Dry Native Pollinator mix, including many local ecotype seeds. Three Swamp Oak trees are being planted to help define the area and natural pathways will wind through the meadow, encouraging people to explore the abundance of birds and insects this meadow should start attracting in 2022. Visitor Center Formal Garden The formal garden area lies between the Quiet Waters Park Visitors Center and the Blue Heron Center and is utilized for gatherings and special events. A number of sculptures stand in the center of various beds and there are many benches to sit on and enjoy the view of the gardens, surrounding forest and wide open sky. While a number of the existing plants attract bees, skippers and other insects, the emphasis going forward is to bring in new native trees and shrubs to replace some of the existing non-natives that may be invasive. The best example of this effort was the removal this year of the Bradford Pear trees that were replaced with native Sweet Bay Magnolias. This is a public park and everyone is welcome. Entry is free to walkers; vehicle fee is $6. Join The Pollinator Pathway The Friends of Quiet Waters Park Facebook link and Friends of Quiet Waters Park website: FQWP.org. Our Partners The Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation & Parks and The Friends of Quiet Waters Park catherine@friendsofquietwaterspark.org

Pollinator Pathway Amherst

Pollinator Pathway East Kingston

Pollinator Pathway Westerly Wilcox Park is owned and maintained by the Memorial and Library Association. The original parcel of land was donated in 1898 by Harriet Wilcox in memory of her husband, Stephen Wilcox. Harriet envisioned the area as a walking park to be enjoyed by the hard-working citizens of Westerly and Pawcatuck. Today, Wilcox Park is considered a Medallion Park by the ASLA and has been a nationally significant listing on the National Register of Historic Places since 2004. Why are Pollinator Gardens important? The Pollinator Garden at Wilcox Park attracts many visitors, with over 50 native plants species, including pollinators: insects, birds, butterfly, moths, bees, caterpillars and other invertebrates that depend on plants for their survival. Pollination occurs when pollen is moved from one flower to another of the same species and pollinates plants by this activity that eventually leads to the important development of fruits and seeds. Sometimes pollen moves between plants by wind but most often by pollinators: bats, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, flies, and moths. What attracts Pollinators? Plants provide visual and olfactory clues to attract pollinators. They lure pollinators by offering rewards of pollen, nectar, resin, and oil. Pollen is a source of protein; nectar is a source of sugar (carbohydrates) and water; and resin is used to waterproof and line bees' nests. Why use native plants? The Wilcox Park Pollinator Garden showcases the best practices to support pollinators by being planted exclusively with native plants, plants that have evolved with the local geology and climate since before colonial days. Native plants attract a more diverse community of pollinators. They are in sync with the life cycles of Rhode Island’s wildlife and growing conditions. The plants in this garden were almost exclusively grown from locally collected seed. This ensures the continued genetic diversity they would have developed in the wild, making them better suited to resist pests, drought and diseases and adapt to climate changes. These plants are not cultivars, as cultivar growers manipulate the plants for color, size, pedals to satisfy the landscape business. Native wildlife prefers the truly native plants, as they have co-evolved with them. Why is the pollinator garden attractive to wildlife? The garden contains a variety of flower types, colors, and bloom times to support different types of pollinators. Bees have stronger immune systems and are less susceptible to pesticides and disease when they have a diversity of food sources. Bees prefer fruity, flowery sweet smells; flies are attracted to unpleasant smelling flowers; moths and butterflies prefer sweet smells. Open, composite flowers have nectar and pollen accessible to most pollinators; butterflies also like them because they have a platform to rest on while they feed. Birds use color to attract them. Red plants attract hummingbirds. Bees feed on one species per foraging trip, so groups of a plant are better for them. Pollinator decline is most acute in spring, so the Wilcox Park is a well-designed pollinator garden that includes flowers that provide nectar and pollen in April, May, and June. The Pollinator Garden is planted in large drifts, so it is easier for pollinators to find the perfect plants for their dining pleasure. What is the structure of the Pollinator Garden? The original garden was developed in 2019 from a grant from the Native Plant Trust. The grant was set up to provide 2 pollinator gardens in each New England state. Since then, the garden has expanded to include a shade garden, and a semi shade garden. Future plans include the addition of shrubs, the hard-working understory of forests. Additionally, a water garden will be reconstructed to collect rain runoff. Maintaining the Pollinator Garden No pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used in the garden, and watering is only done for new plants and in periods of drought. Plant stalks and seed heads are left for overwintering insects and birds. Native plants tend to be robust, and the garden is routinely “edited” as plants spread. Throughout the year, a small portion of the seeds are collected and then winter sowed in December. The seedlings sprout in the spring and are ready to plant by September. New plants and plant divisions are used in Wilcox Park and exchanged with other gardeners. Collected seeds are also given to the Westerly Public Library for their seed exchange program. The Pollinator Garden is lovingly maintained by a dedicated group of URI Master Gardeners. Join the Pollinator Pathway

Pollinator Pathway Sayville Welcome to the Sayville Pollinator Pathway! Sayville is a hamlet located on the South Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. It is part of Islip Township, which is the third largest Township in The State of New York. Sayville is home to the Sayville Yacht Club and the Sayville Garden Club. Sayville Garden Club: https://sayvillegardenclub.com/about/ Email: SayvilleGardenClub@gmail.com The Sayville Garden Club is a group of local residents who are interested in nature, gardening, and community service. The club fosters shared knowledge and cooperation, and has created a friendly and harmonious environment for our group. The Sayville Garden Club is home to several Community Gardens. Sayville is part of the Islip Township Pollinator Pathway and is part of the Suffolk Alliance for Pollinators (SAP). For more information, visit https://www.pollinator-pathway.org and www.pollinator-pathway/towns/islip. We are attempting to identify “qualified “pollinator gardens in Sayville and add them to the L.I. Pollinator Pathway Map. We want to identify gaps and see a lot more butterflies & bees in 2023! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayville,_New_York Native Gardens include: Sparrow Park , the small triangular park at the beginning of South Main Street, is a memorial in honor of local residents who lost their lives while serving their Country. During the spring and summer months, the garden is planted with pretty red geraniums and tended weekly by our volunteers. Jackie’s Garden/9/11 Garden : This beautiful garden was lovingly planted by the family of a young woman from Sayville who lost her life in the Twin Towers. It is dedicated to her and all who perished on 9/11/2001. Several years ago, the garden was adopted by the Sayville Garden Club and is maintained weekly by our volunteers from March to November. Located on Erwin Street adjacent to the marina. Gillette House is a beautiful historic house at 47 Gillette Avenue, that is now used as a community center. During the spring and summer months, volunteers plant, water and maintain the landscaping that surrounds the house. Edwards Homestead Herb Garden: The Homestead was built in 1785 by the Edwards family, the first settlers in Sayville. It is a well preserved farmhouse that serves as the headquarters of the Sayville Historical Society. The Sayville Garden Club has restored the original herb garden and maintains it through the growing season. It is filled with interesting culinary and medicinal herbs and plants, and is an educational community resource. In addition, for the vision impaired, part of the garden acts as a ‘touch and smell’ garden resource. The garden is located at Collins Avenue and Edwards Street, Sayville, NY. This is “The Long Island Pollinator’s Pathway Map”. If you reside in Sayville and have a “Qualified” Pollinator-Friendly Garden that you would like to add to the map, please click on the link below. Join The Pollinator Pathway For more information, please visit https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/about and https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/towns/islip. If you are interested in volunteering in Islip Township Pollinator Pathways, please contact us at Islip.Pollinators@gmail.com. Thank You. Partners Islip Township https://www.islipny.gov/ Supervisor Angie Carpenter (631) 224-5500 supervisorsoffice@islipny.gov Office Address: Town Hall Second Floor, 655 Main Street Islip, New York 11751 Department of Parks & Recreation: Commissioner Thomas Owens Brookwood Hall 50 Irish Lane East Islip, NY 11730 Email: commissioner-rec@islipny.gov Website: https://islipny.gov/departments/parks-recreation-and-cultural-affairs Phone (631) 224-5411 Fax(631) 224-5440 Office Hours: M-F 8:30am to 4:30pm Department of Environmental Control (DEC) Commissioner Martin J. Bellew DEC Office Town Hall West 401 Main Street, Room 302 Islip, NY 11751 Email: commissioner-dec@islipny.gov Website: https://islipny.gov/departments/environmental-control Phone (631) 595-3630 Fax (631) 224-5651 Office Hours: M-F 8:30am to 5:00pm Islip Town Parks Foundation Website: https://isliptownparksfoundation.org Sayville Garden Club Email: SayvilleGardenClub@gmail.com https://sayvillegardenclub.com/about/ Islip.Pollinators@gmail.com

Pollinator Pathway Hampton

Pollinator Pathway Southington

Pollinator Pathway New Boston

Pollinator Pathway Farmington Welcom to the Farmington Pollinator Pathway. A collabortaion from Eaton Farm; Greenbriar Garden Group To join please send email to ztyonkers@gmail.com Join The Pollinator Pathway

Pollinator Pathway Eastern Sierra

Pollinator Pathway Blacklick The Windrush Creek Nature Initiative aims to educate and encourage the 39 homeowner association residents to incorporate native plants and shrubs into their landscape design. The project is a good, natural use of the POA’s landscaping “waste.” Neighbors bring their downed limbs, logs, and clean yard waste to a wood “compost” storage area. These materials create a “sustainable permaculture,” which greatly reduces the need to purchase soil for the new mounds in the project. (Presently, this structure is temporarily housing the locally collected materials that will be used to begin construction of the new pollinator and rain garden beds, as well as to stage further materials that will be used to install a new walking path through the same bed areas). The project will improve an area that is not used for any specific purpose and attract pollinators. Jefferson Township has indicated that they will share this project with other HOAs in the area. In addition, the rain garden will help reduce the erosion runoff problem and provide more native plants and shrubs for pollinators. Join The Pollinator Pathway Our Partner Franklin County Pollinator Pathway

Pollinator Pathway Raymond