Pollinator Pathway
Vernon
Welcome to the Vernon Pollinator Pathway!
How can you help your backyard wildlife?
Grow native plants! Maintaining a manicured lawn decorated with ornamental plants used to be the norm, but many animals disappeared as we took away their food sources and shelter. But, we can bring them back! Growing native plants provides food for the most important component of the food web - insects! An array of plant-eating insects, like moth and butterfly caterpillars, are a major food source for backyard birds. Even those that feed from bird feeders depend on these insects to survive. One simple way to grow native plants in your yard is to let a section of your lawn “go wild”. If you’re worried what the neighbors will think, keep in mind that there are lots of creative ways to “dress up” your pollinator meadow patch. This can include adding an inviting path, which could be as basic as a mowed, grassy path. Be warned that some non-native invasive plants will likely try to invade your meadow and will need to be dealt with.
Identifying Native Plants on Your Property
To help you identify plants in your yard, try using one of these free apps! https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/108940-new-inaturalist-app-for-iphone
Native or non-native?
To determine if a plant coming up in your yard is native to Connecticut (or even to your county), or when shopping for native plants, you can look up the species using the Native Plant Trust’s Go Botany website: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/ Enter the plant’s name in the search engine. (Common names change, so you may have to enter the Latin name. If you used SEEK or iNaturalist to identify your plant, these apps will provide the Latin name.) To see if a non-native plant is invasive, look for it on the Invasive Plant List on the CT Invasive Plant Working Group website https://cipwg.uconn.edu/. This website also offers advice on dealing with invasive plants.
Purchasing Native Plants
Knowing which plants are native can be tricky. Some nursery plants may be labeled as native, but they may not be native to Connecticut, or even the east coast! When shopping for native plants, check the GoBotany website (above) to confirm if the plant is native. One thing to be aware of when purchasing plants is the difference between a native plant and a nativar. A nativar is a cultivar of a native plant, and does not necessarily have the same wildlife value as the true native plant. Learn more here: https://wildones.org/resources/nativars/
Belding Wildlife Management Area
Belding Wildlife Management Area is a 282-acre conservation property in Vernon managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to protect and improve wildlife habitat. Fields, forest edges, wetlands, and stream corridors create a rich mosaic of habitat that supports pollinators and the plants they depend on. These varied landscapes provide essential nesting, foraging, and seasonal refuge for native bees, butterflies, moths, and other beneficial insects, while also supporting birds and amphibians that rely on healthy, connected ecosystems.
Pollinator habitat stewardship is a key part of Belding’s long-term conservation value. Through active land management, habitat restoration, and ongoing stewardship supported by the Belding Wildlife Management Area Charitable Support Trust, the site helps sustain native plant communities and the pollinators they support. Belding also serves as an outdoor classroom, offering seasonal walks and educational programs that help students and community members better understand the importance of protecting habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
Learn more: Belding Wildlife Management
Partner Organizations
Belding Wildlife Management Area
North Central Conservation District
Town of Vernon
Friends of Valley Falls