What are "Pollination Preservation Gardens"?
Pollination Preservation Gardens contain native flowers that specifically support at-risk pollinator species, providing all nectar, pollen, and habitat requirements while maximizing flower and pollinator diversity. Dr. Robert Gegear, Assistant Professor at UMASS-Dartmouth, has created a list of plants that fulfill these criteria, curated from his lab's extensive field research. By creating a garden with pollinator preservation plants, you will build a resource for local wild pollinator species, including the most threatened ones, by fulfilling all ecological requirements throughout the entire growing season.
The Weston Plant Pollinator Alliance, in collaboration with the Weston Water Working Group and Weston Friends of the Rail Trail, plans to install a series of demonstration gardens across Weston highlighting native plants with low water, low maintenance requirements that specifically support local at-risk pollinators.
Photo Credit: Susan Zacharias
These demonstration gardens will highlight the positive impacts of such landscape changes on water usage and quality, biodiversity, and climate resiliency to engage the broader Weston community and can be used as templates to adopt similar planting strategies in yards and public spaces throughout Weston and beyond.
Pollination Preservation Demonstration Gardens in Weston, MA
Garden #1: Massachusetts Central Rail Trail - Weston Segment
Weston's first demonstration "Pollination Preservation Garden"to support threatened native pollinator species is a collaboration among the WPPA, Weston Friends of the Legacy and Rail Trails, and the Town of Weston.
This small but highly visible garden is 90 square feet and contains 15 different plant species that support at-risk pollinators and are adaptable to a variety of site conditions.
The historically significant garden site was a former stop on the Massachusetts Central Railroad. Remnants of the original train platform border the garden.
The garden is immediately adjacent to the Concord Road Wayside access point in Weston. For more information about the project and plants, click below.
Photo credit: Nicole Mordecai