the Wildlife garden at SAS
We've installed a native garden at Scituate Animal Shelter, Scituate, MA. The garden boasts native plants (many donated by Blue Stem Natives, Norwell) and was designed to attract and nourish birds, butterflies & at-risk insects.
We're grateful to the volunteers who continue to help with this project!
We broke ground on this project in November 2021 and installed the garden in June of 2022. The plants chosen will spread and help to increase healthy biodiversity at this sunny spot.
Our chosen plot contained existing native plants such as Bayberry, a favorite source of food for many birds (including chickadees, cat birds, blue birds, red-bellied woodpeckers, swallows and some warblers) and Common Milkweed, the most important plant for Monarch Butterflies, and the only plant on which their eggs, once hatched, can survive.
Progress!
November 2021
November 2021
November 2021
In late fall, we started to clear the space of invasive plants, such as a huge infestation of oriental bittersweet that had taken over the space and was harming the trees and plants in the area.
We used black tarps to solarize and to help to control weeds before planting.
May 2022
November 2021
November 2021
In preparing the ground for planting, we were thrilled to find that removing the invasive plants (like the bittersweet vines) helped native plants already in the area to rebound.
These plants include native asters and goldenrods, Milkweed, Bayberry, Wild Strawberry & Joe Pye Weed.
June 2022
November 2021
June 2022
We planted native plants designed specifically to attract and nurture songbirds, at-risk insects and butterflies.
We've already seen wonderful visitors to the garden, including Monarch and Black Swallowtail butterflies and (gentle) Great Golden Digger Wasps.
Thank you to these generous sponsors
Blue Stem Natives in Norwell, massachusetts
Blue Stem Natives is a native plant nursery in Norwell, MA focused on increasing accessibility and knowledge of native plants of New England.
Doveflower Cottage Garden Designs in Scituate, MA
Doveflower Cottage Garden Designs is a Scituate-based landscape design firm with extensive knowledge about native plants .