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Rethink Your Yard: Create a Habitat for Pollinators Natural landscaping can make properties look beautiful and inviting. There is scientific evidence that sustainable methods have better results for our yards than the "conventional" ways of landscaping using chemicals and practices that harm pollinators and other wildlife . On this page you will find advice from the experts, and the most important steps you can take to make your landscaping practices more healthy and sustainable for everyone. Through the Seasons... Take a relaxed approach to wildlife gardening You don't have to fuss with deadheading. This is because our native perennials (which serve as both nectar and host plants) are adorned with extremely camouflaged butterfly chrysalises and moth pupae, partially grown caterpillars hiding in curled shut leaves, and eggs on stems and leaves. Also, many birds feed on spent seeds through the summer, fall, and winter. So maintain your gardens and layered plantings under trees and shrubs in a wildlife-friendly way. Don't Rush into Spring Clean-Up Begin garden clean up in late winter / early spring, after about a 10-day stretch of warm weather, until temperatures are consistently about 50 degrees F. This will ensure overwintering insects have the chance to hatch out. Not only will you attract birds looking for those insects as well as left over seed heads, you will start the season with a healthy garden ecosystem. Wait as long as possible to rake leaves out of perennial beds and from under trees and shrubs. Many butterflies such as morning cloaks, and beneficial insects like ladybugs, nestle into leaf litter for the winter as adults, eggs or pupae. Luna moths spend the winter in cocoons that look just like a crinkled brown leaf. As you rake up your leaves keep a sharp eye out for these insects and do your best not to disturb them. Better yet, don’t rake these areas at all - this fallen material will break down and provide natural fertilizer for your yard. ​ Don’t mulch till last - there are many beneficial insects and pollinators who burrow into the soil to overwinter as eggs, pupae, or adults. Covering the ground with a layer of mulch too early in the spring may block their emergence. Hold off on mulching until early summer when seedlings have emerged; and then use natural mulch such as untreated grass clippings, leaves and pine needles. Create Homes for Native Bees Leave some “stem stubble”. Break off substantial stems at a height of 12-15" for native bees that nest in cavities (many of our native bees nest in woody ends of plant stems.) These hollow stems will serve as overwintering sites for future generations of insects and the new growth in the plant will soon grow and hide them. Prune with great care When pruning back woody perennials or shrubs, keep a lookout for cocoons and chrysalises. Many moths and butterflies spend the winter in a delicate cocoon dangling from a branch. You can cut these back later in the season Do Everything in June! Try to get the garden clean up, divisions, new plantings, and mulching all done by late June, so that extremely camouflaged pollinator eggs, larvae, and pupa get a chance to survive and you have more time to study, document, and enjoy the garden and all its visitors. Love the Leaves Don’t tidy up in the fall, but instead leave your garden and layered plantings under trees and shrubs standing through winter. Leaves protect tree, shrub, and perennial roots; they break down and naturally and sustainably nourish your soil; they prevent erosion. Pollinators you’ve attracted will survive the winter, since many winter as an egg, partially grown caterpillar, chrysalis or pupa on standing vegetation or in the duff below it. Your spring-through-fall pollinator garden will transition into a winter bird garden. Birds will benefit from all the cover (plants left standing) and food (seed heads and overwintering insects). Learn more here. Some Dos and Don'ts.... Select Native Plants, Especially KEYSTONE Native Plants Native Plants are crucial nectar plants (food source plants) and crucial caterpillar plants (host plants for butterflies and moths). If this concept is new to you, read Doug Tallamy’s inspirational and information-packed books Bringing Nature Home, How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants (2007), which explains the co-evolutionary relationship between insects and native plants. Keystone plants are "native plants that support a significant number of caterpillars (butterfly and moth larvae). Planting keystone plants helps build complex food webs by forming the essential foundation —native plants and insects — that provide food for other organisms, directly and indirectly." (Heather Holm) To find a list of Keystone Plants for your Eco-region, click here . Tallamy suggests starting small and working towards towards a goal 70% Native plants in your yard. EVERY NATIVE PLANT COUNTS - so do whatever you can. ​ Remove Invasives. Do not plant, and consider removing, invasives like Burning Bush, Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii), Rose of Sharon(Hibiscus syriacus) and many others. Invasives take over our private and public landscapes and wipe out habitat for wildlife. Read more here . ​ Check out our favorite Native Plant Lists here. Find a list of Native Plant Nurseries for your area here . Check out Special Sales of Native Plants on our Events page . Don’t cut down your woods to create a butterfly garden Trees are critical for pollinators and actually support an even greater diversity of butterflies and moths than herbaceous plants. According to Tallamy, Oaks are the most valuable pollinator trees, supporting over 500 species of moths and butterflies. Other valuable host trees include Black Cherry, Willow, Birches, Poplars and Crabapple. Click here for a list of Keystone Native Trees. Don't Forget the Shady Areas There are many beautiful and resilient plants from the woodland understory of eastern North America that can enliven a shady landscape on your property and change your perception about gardening in the shade. Here are many ideas and plant lists to create a layered landscape with less lawn. There are many beautiful and resilient plants from the woodland understory of eastern North America that can enliven a shady landscape on your property and change your perception about gardening in the shade. Many of these are host plants to over 100 different butterflies and moths and are excellent nectar plants as well. Choose the right native plant for the right spot What native plants are currently thriving in and around your yard? Sun-loving, shade-loving, those that like wet feet, those that thrive in dry conditions etc. If you’re working to restore the natural habitat in your backyard with native plants, there are steps to help you pick the right plants for the job. Many of the websites here have filters to generate plant lists for specific conditions. Provide nectar spring through late fall (frost). Native perennials, vines, trees, & shrubs have a finite blooming period. Your wildlife habitat will be a changing palette of color and nectar as you fill it with a variety of plantings that bloom at different times. Use Natural Mulches Mulch garden plants with natural mulches like leaves, salt hay, untreated grass clippings, or pine needles. These natural mulches will inhibit weeds and keep the soil from drying out. As a bonus, these natural mulches break down and enrich your garden naturally. Your goal should be to eventually mulch with a super abundance of native plants (as they multiply and cover bare areas). To weed or not to weed? Be sure you are weeding something you truly do not want. Many seedlings are from the natives you purchased and planted. Go Botany is an excellent resource to ID mystery plants. iNaturalist is another good resource, and here you can join the Pollinator Pathway iNaturalist project to add your observations to thousands of sightings along the Pathway. Avoid plants treated with Neonicotinoid Insecticides. Many big-box store and roadside nursery natives have been treated with Neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids are systemic (get into every part of the plant, including pollen, nectar, even dew) pesticides that are applied to many commercially-available nursery plants and are harmful to bees, caterpillars, moths, and butterflies. Buy plants from nurseries you know, and always ask if plants are pesticide free. Provide Water Sources Pollinators need sources of water for drinking and reproduction. You may already have a natural water source, such as a pond or stream. If not, you can create a water source. This can be as easy as adding a bird bath or placing a small container of water out in the open. Be sure to change the water 2-3 times per week during warm weather when mosquitoes are breeding. Rethink your Lawn In the last century we began to import European turf grasses, and ever since they have been a main component of the American yard. But these grasses are foreign to our climate and habitat, and need lots of water (9 billion gallons a day in the US, according to the EPA). The pesticide industry began introducing a standard of the “weed free” lawn in the 1950s. Before that, lawn seed came mixed with clover. The “ideal" lawn has evolved to become a “weed free” monoculture. To achieve that look, we have to rely on mowers, blowers, additional water, fertilizers, and too often herbicides and insecticides. Not only are these practices expensive and time consuming, they are also detrimental to our soil, our surface water and our wildlife. Further, they fill our air with noise and pollutants. It is time for a change. Replace or reduce the size of your lawn. To learn more go here . Take the NO MOW MAY Challenge! Join us as we participate in No Mow May! By leaving your property unmown for the month of May, you’re creating habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Download the signs and read more here. (Note: Please Check Your Town Blight Ordinance about Meadow Restrictions) Do not use Pesticides, Fungicides, Herbicides Even organic pesticides kill our butterflies, moths, and other beneficial insects. Birds feed on insects and are affected too. For more information click here . Find out more about Harmful Pesticides and Safe Control here. Do not use Synthetic Fertilizers. Native plants thrive in poor soils; they may die or do poorly if planted in topsoil. Chemical fertilizers cause environmental damage during their production process and when they are used in our yards. Instead use grass clippings and leaves which can be mulched on the lawn for nutrients, and you may use compost as well. Compost doesn’t just nurture your plants, it also helps retain moisture, creates better soil structure; it feeds the microorganisms in the soil, and helps store carbon. Limit Outdoor Lighting The increased and widespread use of artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants. To minimize this effect, only use lighting when and where it’s necessary. Choose warm yellow lights rather than cool, bluish lights. If safety is concern, install motion detector lights and timers. Properly shield all outdoor lights, and let the light face downward. Keep your blinds drawn to keep light inside. Go Electric There are serious health and environmental consequences related to gas-fueled landscaping equipment. The two-stroke engines used in the landscaping industry are the main reason the industry accounts for more than 10% of the air pollution in the USA. When it's time, consider buying electric equipment for your yard. Since leaf blowers are among the worst offenders of air pollution, we recommend you reconsider leaf blower use altogether . Leaf blowers have no use in a healthy yard. The hurricane force wind they create is deadly to native, ground-nesting bees and any pollinator eggs or pupae on the ground. If you have a lawn, you can easily switch from blowing to mulch-mowing . There is no need to blow the leaves from garden beds either, as the leaves provide protection and nutrients for the plants. Adapted from Pat Sutton's Guide. For more information and ideas on all the steps you can take to create a garden that not only looks beautiful but also benefits pollinators and beneficial insects download Pat Sutton's “Gardening for Pollinators” HANDOUT (2-15-22 update)

Pollinator Pathway New Fairfield Buy a sign ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Pollinator Pathway East Haddam ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Pollinator Pathway Wellesley Buy a sign The Wellesley Natural Resources Commission is launching a Pollinator Pathway Project to create inter-connected pollinator habitat paths of native gardens on town lands, private gardens, schools, houses of worship, and businesses. All are welcome to join, regardless of gardening ability! Watch this space for more information and events in the coming months. Expanding Pollinator Pathways benefits everyone. The process of creating pollinator friendly habits can also contribute to reduced costs of mowing, better air quality, lower noise levels, more water conservation, improved infiltration, and healthier environment for people and pets. The NRC hosted one of three demonstration gardens in Massachusetts as part of a grant from Pollinate New England, an initiative of New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS). In June 2018, town volunteers and staff from the NRC and Dept. of Public Works participated in two educational programs to learn how to help these critical species. The main takeaway of the day: we should be planting more native plants in our open spaces and private yards! Anchor Gardens Wellesley Police Department A pollinator garden in front of the Wellesley Police Department is helping feed and house local birds, bees and other insects that pollinate our plants. These species are vital to our food supply because they ensure healthy crops. Join The Pollinator Pathway ​ The NRC’s Grow Green Wellesley Initiative is intended to inspire our community to use eco-friendly landscaping methods to protect our health and environment. The town of Wellesley currently maintains all public land - including schools and playing fields - without harmful chemicals, and emphasizes native plants to create biodiversity in town. Through town-wide events and activities and collaboration with other town departments, the Grow Green Wellesley Initiative promotes education on topics such as natural landscaping, organic lawn care, planting for pollinators, composting, storm water management and more. ​ ​ ​

Philipstown Pollinator Pathway The Philipstown Pollinator Pathway Initiative aims to nurture pollinators and reverse the decline of insect species responsible for more than 30% of the food we eat and 80% of all flowering plants. The goal is to use education and outreach to encourage residents and neighbors to support pollinators by establishing pesticide-free habitat and providing food sources, including native flowers, shrubs and trees. ​ The Pollinator Pathway initiative is supported by the Constitution Marsh Audubon Center , The Garden Conservancy , Hudson Highlands Land Trust , Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County , Westchester Land Trust , Boscobel House and Gardens , Philipstown Garden Club, Putnam Highlands Audubon Society , Desmond-Fish Public Library, Manitoga , Glynwood , and Haldane PTA School Garden Committee . Join the Pathway Nurture Pollinators and Reverse the Decline of Insect Species Responsible for More Than 30% of the Food We Eat and 80% of All Flowering Plants Access these links for information on: -Philipstown Pollinator-Pathway Brochure -Attracting Pollinators - Eastern US -How to Help Pollinators -Succession of Bloom -Pollinator-Friendly Perennials -Pollinator-Friendly Trees / Shrubs -Pollinator-Friendly Annuals -Garden Plans and Planting Ideas -Local Nurseries with Native Plants -Ecological Landscape Professionals -Gardens to Visit in our Area -FAQs -ReThink your Lawn -Repel Ticks without Pesticides I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Celebrate Pollinator Week 2020 - June 22 - 28 - by Sharing Photos of Pollinator Moments in your Garden Now that we are Gardening for the Birds and Bees we would like to celebrate Pollinator Week 2020 by sharing the results we are seeing in our own home landscapes. Please send photos of a “Pollinator Moment” or more in your garden to matthew.weigman@gmail.com . We will post them on the Pollinator Pathway page on the PGC website and on the Philipstown Page on the Pollinator-Pathway.org website in a carousel similar to the “What’s Blooming Now” feature on the PGC Horticulture page. 1/4 PHILIPSTOWN GROUPS WORKING TO HELP YOU GET ON THE POLLINATOR PATHWAY Philipstown Garden Club The objective of the Philipstown Garden Club shall be to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, flower arranging, and to improve and protect the quality of the environment through programs and actions in the field of conservation, civic improvement and education. Putnam Highlands Audubon Society Connecting People with Nature: The mission of the Putnam Highlands Audubon Society is to preserve and maintain those lands and waters that have been entrusted to our stewardship; to inform and educate the public on issues involving birds, wildlife, and the environment; and to encourage membership in the Chapter and participation in its activities. Hudson Highlands Land Trust The Hudson Highlands Land Trust (HHLT), based in Philipstown, is a non-profit conservation organization with a mission to protect and preserve the natural resources, rural character and scenic beauty of the Hudson Highlands. HHLT coordinates the New York Highlands Network, a coalition of organizations, neighbors and landowners working to create “green corridors” between conserved lands across the New York Highlands region to ensure wildlife—including pollinators—can survive and thrive in the face of climate change. www.hhlt.org The Garden Conservancy The Garden Conservancy is a national nonprofit organization, founded by plantsman Frank Cabot in 1989 and headquartered at Winter Hill, in Garrison, NY. The mission of the Garden Conservancy is to preserve, share, and celebrate America’s gardens and diverse gardening traditions for the education and inspiration of the public. This Philipstown Pollinator Pathway Initiative goes to the very heart of recognizing gardens, and the ecosystems they create, as essential to promoting a healthful environment and healthful communities. Without pollinators, there would be no gardens. www.gardenconservancy.org . The Desmond-Fish Public Library The Desmond-Fish Public Library is committed to reducing our environmental footprint and promoting sustainable stewardship at all levels of our organization. Our goal is to minimize our organization’s impact and maximize future generations’ ability to live, work, and play in our shared natural environment, with equal access to clean air, clean water, and natural resources. Our 2020 Master Site Plan implements the Library’s sustainability goals - including protecting the natural biodiversity of our property with native plantings and sustainable land management - with our community-building goals to improve accessibility of the Library’s grounds for public use. www.desmondfishlibrary.org ​ Manitoga Manitoga is the historic House, Studio and 75-acre landscape of mid-20th century industrial designer Russel Wright (1904-1976) in Garrison, New York. The site is designated a National Landmark for its unique sense of place, rich cultural history and environmental sustainability. MANITOGA / The Russel Wright Design Center ensures that Wright’s timeless design vision and celebration of the Hudson Highlands native landscape are preserved and shared through tours, programs, events, and year-round access to the woodland trails. www.visitmanitoga.org . ​ The Haldane PTA Garden Committee The Haldane School Garden is a living outdoor classroom that is part of our local public school campus, where K-12 students have engaged in hands-on, interdisciplinary learning since 2010. Students learn to problem solve, think critically, and communicate collaboratively on lessons that tie into grade-level curriculum for Science, Math, Social Studies, History, Language Arts, Foreign Languages and the Fine Arts. Haldane's PTA School Garden Committee is group of volunteer parents that manage and maintain the garden with pollinator-friendly practices, while supporting teachers that integrate garden learning into their curriculum. Our dedicated Pollinator Courtyard and surrounding theme beds include native plants, useful plants, wildflowers and edible plants, introducing students to the importance of habitats & ecosystems that encourage biodiversity. http://www.growinghaldane.com/ ​ Boscobel House and Gardens The mission of Boscobel House and Gardens is to engage diverse audiences in the Hudson Valley’s ongoing, dynamic exchange between design, history, and nature. With an esteemed Historic House Museum containing one of the finest collections of decorative arts from the Federal period, lush gardens, a woodland trail, and extensive grounds showcasing dramatic views of the Hudson River, Boscobel embodies, preserves, and shares the beauty of the Hudson River Valley. https://boscobel.org ​ ​ Glynwood Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming is dedicated to supporting our local pollinator population in partnership with the Philipstown Pollinator Pathway Project. Environmental resilience and conservation are core values for Glynwood; participating in the Pathway Project will ensure our gardening and landscaping practices are aligned with these values. We look forward to deepening our commitment to sustainable practices by increasing our native plantings, avoiding (even organic) pesticide use, and rethinking our lawn maintenance practices to promote biodiversity and help native pollinators thrive. https://www.glynwood.org

Join the Monroe Pollinator Pathway! Wherever you are in Monroe, if you have a meadow or one planter, you can help support our essential pollinators and other wildlife. Let’s get everyone in town to participate – residents, businesses, schools, organizations – any spot a plant will grow is an opportunity to support pollinators! What actions can you take? Go native! Native plants are plants that occur naturally (without direct or indirect human intervention) in the location where they evolved and generally are the most attractive to pollinators. Choose a variety of plants. Having plants that bloom in spring, summer, and fall will ensure food is always available for pollinators. Plant several of each variety (at least 3, or more if you can). Insects are attracted to drifts of color and it looks great in your garden! Avoid cultivars. Many cultivars (cultivated varieties) have been altered to have a different color or form to attract a buyer but that can result in the plant being less attractive to insects and/or providing less pollen and nectar. Leave the leaves and plant stalks in the fall. Do garden clean up in the spring. Insects will overwinter in leaf litter and plant stalks and birds will pick through the leaves for insects. Start removing non-native plants (i.e. plants that originally came from other parts of the world) to make room for more natives! Non-natives support fewer insects and some will re-seed into woods or other unmanaged areas and crowd out native plants. Leave some bare ground around your plants. Many native bees are ground dwelling – they need bare ground to nest. Reduce or eliminate use of pesticides and herbicides Not sure what plants to choose? There are lots of resources to help you learn about plants. The main Pollinator Pathway site includes native plant lists https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/native-pollinator-plants and where they are available https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/where-to-buy-native-plants Need some inspiration? Visit the pollinator garden in Oak Grove at Great Hollow Lake (454 Purdy Hill Rd.) to see some beautiful native plants in person and the butterflies, bees, and birds that benefit from their pollen, nectar, and seeds. If you have any questions about becoming part of the Pollinator Pathway in Monroe please send your questions to PollinatorPathwayMonroe@gmail.com .

Glastonbury Pollinator Pathway

Rethink your Lawn Lawn to Meadow Lawncare Calendar No Mow May Rethink Your Lawn How? Mow less frequently—only every 2-3 weeks "Join the No Mow May movement (check your town blight ordinance about meadow restrictions)” Reduce the size by adding shrubs, trees or a pollinator garden or clover! Let part of your yard go natural. Wild flowers will likely appear. Create a mini-meadow Avoid Pesticides Test your soil to see what, if any, fertilizer you need, and go organic Leave the leaves Go Electric! Allow for some dirt patches Provide a fresh water source Why are Lawns Causing a Problem? They provide little to no habitat They add fertilizers and toxins from 70 million pounds of pesticides a year to wetlands, streams and rivers & the Sound Their root systems are too shallow to effectively filter stormwater runoff Homeowners typically use 10 times the amount of pesticides and fertilizers per acre on their lawns than farmers do on crops Lawns Use Tons of Water In lower Fairfield County, 40% of water is used outdoors, and in the summer that number jumps to 70%, according to Aquarion Water Company Nationally, lawns suck up 9 billion gallons of water per day, according to the EPA Loss of Plant Diversity: America's biggest crop is not what you think! Over 40 million acres of land in the continental US has some form of lawn on it. --Business Insider, February 19, 20 LEARN MORE Lawn to Meadow Convert your Lawn to a Meadow Converting some or all of your lawn to woods or meadow creates a natural habitat for pollinators by adding diversity and interest to your backyard. In addition, it reduces the time you spend mowing and avoids the problems listed above. A diverse array of native trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and warm season grasses are much better than turf grass for keeping soil and nutrients in place. The first step to a lawn becoming a meadow is to stop the weekly mowing. Next you should pay attention to what plants are already there and remove any problem invasive species. If you already have bare patches between the grass (common in dry or shady lawns), you can immediately start planting small plants or scratch in some seeds, ideally in early spring or fall. Mow a meandering path through the area to invite you out in the space once the grass and other plants grow taller. Lawn grasses can also be killed without herbicides using a technique called soil solarization. The entire lawn is covered with black plastic for 3 months – the heat kills the grass. You will then have a weed free area where you can rake and sow seeds or plant small plants in the dead turf. Sheet mulching is another effective technique. Read more about these methods in the Primer for the ecological gardener. ​ To learn more about how to convert your lawn to a meadow, please check out the following links: How to Create a Meadow Garden Creating Wildflower Meadows From Scratch Or By Simply Changing Mowing Regimes How to turn your lawn into a garden Lawncare Calendar Download Calendar Take the NO MOW MAY Challenge! Let your green lawn turn into a riot of color with buttercups, clover, dandelions and daisies that will offer much-needed food for our beleaguered bees and butterflies who are hungry after a long winter. Take the No Mow May Challenge! That’s right—Do Nothing! Leave your mower in the garage until June. Every flower counts when it comes to providing a meal for pollinators, so it makes sense that cutting your lawn in early spring, when not many flowers are blooming yet, is not the best thing to do. Understandably, if this is your first time it may be hard to get comfortable with a bit of messiness. Here’s a suggestion: don’t go “all the way.” Give your lawn a partial haircut instead of a full buzz cut by leaving islands or streams of lawn untouched by the mower where the wildflowers can bloom. Try mowing wide paths so you can walk around, watch the activity and enjoy the changing shapes and colors. Have these paths lead to a bench, a birdbath, a statue, or a big pot of flowers. If you’re worried about what the neighbors will say, mow a buffer along the edges and along your driveway and walkways to show the new look is intentional. No Mow May saves time, saves money, provides for quiet relaxation, and eliminates noise and air pollution (the EPA attributes 5% of U.S. air pollution to mowers). Natural landscapes attract more bird species providing a chance for birdwatching, and they offer opportunities for photography, painting, or simply observing our native wildflowers and the pollinators that flock to them. (Note: Please Check Your Town Blight Ordinance about Meadow Restrictions. Here's how one Pollinator Pathway group challenged and updated their city's blight ordinance to allow managed meadows. ) Click on a Sign Design to Download for Printing Lawn Signs at Your Local Printer No Mow May

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Welcome to the Fairfield Pollinator Pathway ​ Join the Fairfield Pollinator Pathway Fairfield is proud to be part of the Pollinator Pathway. Below are the local groups that are available to help you with your efforts. Please see what they are doing related to the Pollinator Pathway / contact them directly for more information. In order to officially be part of Fairfield’s Pollinator Pathway you must take the pledge . If you are interested you may purchase a sign to display that you are on the Pollinator Pathway at CT Audubon Society Center at Fairfield at 2325 Burr Street or Birdcraft Museum at 314 Unquowa Road for $10 each. Also, if you are interested someone from one of our local groups listed below can come to your garden to advise you, please let us know when you fill out the pledge . For more information contact the Forestry Committee at forestry@fairfieldct.org or (203) 701-8342. If you have an event you think others interested in the Pollinator Pathway would like to know about, please tell us using this form . Thank you. Fairfield Groups working to help you get on the Pollinator Pathway Aspetuck Land Trust Aspetuck Land Trust’s vision is to create a healthier community that better connects and engages our communities and safeguards our land, wildlife and water resources for generations to come. We will achieve our vision by creating a 40,000-acre Green Corridor that will extend through Fairfield, Westport, Weston, Easton, Wilton and Redding. The Green Corridor will protect, connect and improve the ecological health of our region for all people and wildlife. The Green Corridor is a massive connected landscape that encompasses more than 4 pollinator pathways in the region, encouraging the planting of natives, rethinking lawn, and reducing pesticide use. Connecticut Audubon Society The Connecticut Audubon Society conserves Connecticut’s environment through science-based education and advocacy focused on the state’s bird populations and habitats. Founded in 1898, the Connecticut Audubon Society operates nature facilities in Fairfield, Milford, Glastonbury, Pomfret, Hampton, and Sherman, a center in Old Lyme, an EcoTravel office in Essex, and it manages 20 wildlife sanctuaries encompassing almost 3,300 acres of open space in Connecticut. Connecticut Audubon has been installing demonstration pollinator gardens and meadows across the state. Pollinator Pathways are essential for bees, butterflies, and migratory birds. Fairfield Forestry Committee The Fairfield Forestry Committee promotes stewardship of town-owned trees and assists the town Tree Warden with implementing the town’s Community Forest Management Plan. The committee promotes awareness and appreciation for the environmental, economic, and cultural value of trees in Fairfield. Native plants, including many trees, are important host plants for pollinators. The pollinator pathway helps to promote an appreciation of trees and other native plants and to encourage biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem. Mill River Wetland Committee Our motto is EDUCATE, ADVOCATE and ENGAGE. MRWC aims to educate the entire community about the precious natural resources we all share. In addition to being active in the community, we teach 3,300+ students and 600+ adult guides annually about the vital importance of watersheds. MRWC advocates to promote conservation and sustainable development. The pollinator pathway is a wonderful way to engage Fairfielders in the role they can play in being good stewards of their land. For more information contact the Forestry Committee at forestry@fairfieldct.org or (203) 701-8342. ​ Print the Pledge

Pollinator Pathway Chester Buy a sign ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Wilton Pollinator Pathway Wilton residents have the opportunity to use their own backyards to make an impact on the environment by joining the Pollinator Pathway. The program aims to establish pollinator-friendly habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and the plethora of other pollinating insects and wildlife along two continuous corridors, Route 33 and Route 7 which abuts the Norwalk River. This branch heads east and connects to the Wilton/Weston Pollinator Pathway. While two roadways have been earmarked as the Pollinator Pathway, all residents are encouraged to participate. The initiative began in April 2017, and citizens are able to join the program by pledging to create a pollinator-friendly space with native nectar and larval host plants on their property--as small as a container to as large as a meadow--and to use pest management techniques that do not require pesticides to control insects or weeds. Yard Visits From A Master Gardener As part of the program, the Pollinator Pathway offers visits to people’s yards by master gardeners for free assessments about where to plant pollinator plants and which ones to choose. Pollinator Pathway Logo Wilton artist, Paige Lyons, designed the logo, which shows the town map in green and the configuration of the pathway beginning with the loop in the town center and moving in a “Y” up Ridgefield Rd and Danbury Rd along the Norwalk River. Pollinator Gardens Planted So Far... ​ Allen's Meadow, Danbury Rd new meadow coming summer 2020 ​ Chess Park, River Rd, Town Center ​ Hillside Cemetery, Ridgefield Rd April 2017 April 2018 ​ Norwalk River Valley Trail at Sharp Hill Rd & Autumn Ridge ​ Wilton Library Children's Garden The Wilton Pollinator Pathway is a collaboration of Norwalk River Watershed Association, Wilton Garden Club, Wilton Land Conservation Trust, and Woodcock Nature Center with support from Highstead Foundation, Hudson-to-Housatonic Regional Conservation Parnership (H2H), and Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT) on behalf of the community of Wilton. Our steering committee is led by Jackie Algon, info@pollinator-pathway.org . Follow us on Facebook Add your property, a town garden, or a pesticide-free open space in your town to this map of private and public way-stations along the Pollinator Pathway. The black and white butterfly logos mark residences that provide a food and shelter for pollinators. The green and purple butterfly logos mark public gardens managed by volunteers The blue pins mark protected open space that provides pesticide-free native habitat for wildlife, including pollinators. Email us at info@norwalkriver.org and include the address of the property you would like to add.