The Garden Coalition Pollinatior Project

[Teresa Speight]

The Garden Coalition is embarking upon a very exciting project to give back to beneficial insects as they struggle from current gardening practices.  Due to the increased use of pesticides and NOT best practices of garden maintenance, bees and butterfly's are really having a hard time surviving and multiplying.  Pollinator plants are necessary for them to survive.  That is the reason for our mission.  We are going to improve the environmentally friendly footprint of the City of District Heights. 

 

We have developed a three part plan that will enhnace the beauty of greenspce within the City of District Heights at the intersection of Rochelle Drive and District Heights Parkway, as well as along the woodsline from this intersection to the Jack Sims Clock Tower.  We cannot do ths alone and we need assistance from our friends and neighbors.  Phase I will enhance the Clean Up - Green Up Triangle that we installed last fall on the Prince Georges County 4th Clean Up Green Up Day. We are so excited about the visible gentle awakening at this site, as the daffodils and iris break through the frozen soil..

 

Phase I will become our first substantial pollinator garden, which will include native plants and some annuals (for long periods of seasonal color).  We are in need of non invasive native plant materials to enhance this site.  As soon as we can work the ground, the turf will be removed, the ground prepared and edging will be installed.  The goal is to have the bed installed this Spring, so that the children - as they walk to and from school, the Seniors - as they enjoy walking for their health, the residents - on their way to work and play, will see nature at work.  This educational example of what bees and butterfly's need to increase their populations will perhaps spark interest in ecology, gardening, green jobs and most importantly getting outside - in addition to increasing our pollinator population.

 

Phase II will not take place until Fall of 2015 and will include installing Pollinator Pockets along the woodsline which will enhance existing native plant material.  We have such lovely stands of Joe Pye and native Asters that created lots of activity from our beneficials last fall.  It was a sight for sore eyes and I anticipate that it will only be prettier this year and even better once we enhance these areas, without disturbing the existing plant material. .

 

Phase III will take place in Spring 2016 and will include a different but colorful perspective of planting for pollinators in the triangle adjacent to Phase I.  We hope to include a bench and a trash receptacle, so that our residents can pause and see nature at work.  At this time there is a Birch Tree on this triangle which we planted at the Clean Up Green Up activity Fall 2014.

 

As you can see, we are excited about the possibilities of this project.  As we embark upon this adventure, follow our facebook page - thegardencoalition-dh . 

 

If you would like to help us by either volunteering your time, donating plants, growing plants with us or for us, creative signage to educate those who want to know what a specific plant cultivar is, sharing our story, please contact Teri Speight,  thegarden...@gmail.com.  We would love to set a positive example for our residents to embrace nature and for this idea to take off in the surrounding urban communities.