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Orleans Garden Tour - visit six private gardens that showcase a variety of gardening styles.

http://www.orleansimprovement.org/oia-garden-tour-2021/

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Join fellow permies and gardeners for a permablitz at an established Northampton site, enjoy some food and take home some plants!

Event is free of charge.

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Join fellow permies and gardeners for a permablitz at an established Northampton site, enjoy some food and take home some plants!

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JUNE 22 - NOFA/Mass Launches the MA Pollinator Network (MAPN)!

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JUNE 22 - NOFA/Mass Launches the MA Pollinator Network (MAPN)!

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We have launched a statewide network to connect people, communities, organizations, and research groups working to protect pollinators across the Commonwealth. We will be hosting a virtual launch event on June 22, 2021 at 7 PM! Registration required.

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Massachusetts Pollinator Network (MAPN) Launch Event!

NOFA/Mass is officially launching the Massachusetts Pollinator Network! MAPN is a statewide initiative to connect, coordinate, and support the growing number of communities, organizations, and researchers working to protect pollinators and native plant communities across the Commonwealth.

Join us to discuss the broader vision for the network and the role of the newly hired Pollinator Network Coordinator (Rosemary Malfi, rosemary@nofamass.org) in meeting the needs of network participants. We will also hear from Peggy MacLeod of the Western Mass Pollinator Network (WMPN) about the benefits of participating in a statewide network for community organizations, as well as what's next for their organization.

This online (Zoom) event is free of charge. Please register here. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Massachusetts Pollinator Network (MAPN) Launch Event!

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NOFA/Mass is officially launching the Massachusetts Pollinator Network! MAPN is a statewide initiative to connect, coordinate, and support the growing number of communities, organizations, and researchers working to protect pollinators and native plant communities across the Commonwealth.

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JUNE 23 - MA Pollinator Network will host native bee ecologist Kathryn LeCroy, Ph.D.

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JUNE 23 - MA Pollinator Network will host native bee ecologist Kathryn LeCroy, Ph.D.

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Kathryn LeCroy, Ph.D. (University of Virginia) will be the first speaker of the MA Pollinator Network (NOFA/Mass) Summer Seminar Series! She will be speaking about her fascinating work on invasive mason bees displacing native mason bees and the large citizen science effort (over 200 participants!) she organized to collect valuable data.

Register for event here: https://www.nofamass.org/event/mapn-speaker-kate_lecroy/

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"Attracting Birds, Butterflies,

and Other Beneficials," a presentation offered by naturalist and landscaper John Root.

Saturday June 26th @ 10 am
Russell Public Library

85 Main St., Russell

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Be a citizen scientist! Contribute to pollinator and host plant data by photographing and identifying pollinators using your mobile device (requires iNaturalist app). See link for more details.

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pollinator-week-2021-pollinator-bioblitz

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The Pollinator Partnership organizes Pollinator Week and is hosting a Pollinator Power Party! You can register for their week of events here: https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week/activities

They will also have Facebook live talks (see image below).

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The Xerces Society is offering free virtual seminars over the summer, including a Pollinator Panel on June 23. Registration required.

https://xerces.org/events

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An excellent line-up of scientists talking about a wide array of topics related to pollinators.

Registration required - see link.

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Beyond Pesticides offers a week of actions you can take to help Pollinators. Check out their suggestions here!

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National Pollinator Week Kicks Off with a Week of Actions
JUNE 18-24, 2018 #PollinatorWeek
To Stop Bee-Toxic Pesticide Use and Adopt Organic Practices

Washington DC, June 18, 2018 - In recognition of the importance of pollinators and biodiversity to a healthy environment and healthy people during National Pollinator Week, June 18-24, Beyond Pesticides announces a week of activities and actions.

Monday
Watch and share the new short-film "Seeds that Poison." To kick off Pollinator Week 2018, Beyond Pesticides is releasing a new video highlighting the hazards associated with a major use of bee-toxic pesticides - seed coatings. Please watch and share with friends and family! Click here to watch Seeds that Poison.

After distributing the film, please contact your state elected officials to ask that they act to protect pollinators. (Connecticut and Maryland have taken action.)

Folks in the DC area can also attend a "Pollinator Forum" to learn about pollinators and celebrate them. The event is taking place at the Tabard Inn (Monday, June 18) and will feature Beyond Pesticides' Science and Regulatory Director Nichelle Harriott. Click here to purchase tickets.

Tuesday
Plant pollinator habitat. Explore Beyond Pesticides' resources to find ideas for native plantings or sources of untreated flowers and dig your pollinator-friendly garden today. Use the Bee Protective Habitat Guide and or Pollinator-Friendly Seed Directory to help!

Wednesday
Take local action. Use our organizing materials to engage your public officials or local garden center to eliminate the use of bee-toxic pesticides in your community. Sign the pledge that you're ready to fight for a pesticide-free community.

Thursday
Take federal action. The European Union (EU) recently banned outdoor uses of neonic insecticides, and Canada is poised to put new restrictions on many uses. With the dismantling of EPA and the outsized influence of the chemical industry on Administrator Scott Pruitt, urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor and pass the Saving America's Pollinators Act!

Friday
Tell your state officials to ban mosquito misters. Mosquito misters harm bees and other flying pollinators, and are the least effective way to deal with biting mosquitoes. (Misters are unregulated devices that are typically placed outdoors and continually spray insecticides -mostly in an attempt to control mosquitoes.) Urge your Governor and state legislators to ban the use of misters.

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Washington DC, June 18, 2018 - In recognition of the importance of pollinators and biodiversity to a healthy environment and healthy people during National Pollinator Week, June 18-24, Beyond Pesticides announces a week of activities and actions. Monday Watch and share the new short-film "Seeds that Poison."

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Learn about the Beecology citizen science project, a collaboration between scientists at UMass and WPI, and how you can capture data for scientific pollinator research happening right here in MA.

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Discover your nearest native plant vendor!

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Discover your nearest native plant vendor!

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A user-created map of native plant nurseries in New England. Find yours!

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Shopping: Native Plants New England - Google My Maps

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Inspired by the FB group, Native Plants of New England: environmentally conscious people who promote restoring the health and balance of nature by restoring native plants to the landscape throughout New England, USA. All locations on map have been recommended by members. If you're planning a long drive, you may want to call ahead to verify hours/availability.

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Tufts Pollinator Initiative - Native Plant Sale June 20th

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Tufts Pollinator Initiative - Native Plant Sale June 20th

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Native Plant Sale in Medford, MA. https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/cultivate/native-plant-sale/

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https://aliceskitchenathoneyhill.com/amys-nursery/

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Have you planted a pollinator garden? Document your contribution to pollinator habitat here!

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1,001 Pollinator Gardens is an initiative to encourage, support, and document the commitment of 1,001 people in Western Massachusetts to grow gardens that offer food and shelter to pollinators.
Our goals are to: 1. Provide sustaining habitat for pollinator species. 2. Help shift human gardening culture towards more ecologically beneficial gardening practices based on our knowledge of the needs of pollinators and other wildlife species. We invite you to participate by registering your garden and Become One of 1001! Make your garden a pollinator haven to sustain and celebrate these winged neighbors:

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1,001 Pollinator Gardens is an initiative to encourage, support, and document the commitment of 1,001 people in Western Massachusetts to grow gardens that offer food and shelter to pollinators. Our goals are to: 1. Provide sustaining habitat for pollinator species. 2. Help shift human gardening culture towards more ecologically beneficial gardening practices based on our...

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Open Saturdays and Sundays.

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Retiring after two decades with Native Plant Trust, Cayte McDonough, Nasami Farm Nursery Production Manager, leaves a thriving propagation center that reflects her passion for plants, her talent for systematic thinking, and her ability to build a mousetrap out of-well, anything. She has built a contract-growing program for restoring native plants to the landscapes of college campuses, land trusts, and national parks, not to mention introducing the popular pollinator kits for retail sale.

Resourcefulness is a hallmark of her many contributions: To modify greenhouse conditions for species with different needs, Cayte has created varying microclimates using little more than shade cloth and inverted crates. Native Plant News picks her brain about collecting seed, configuring spreadsheets, and tying down greenhouses during windstorms.

NPN: How did you get into the field of plant propagation?

CM: I've had a lifelong interest in plants, but early on I didn't know about related career options. I studied English literature and communications as an undergraduate, and then worked in technical communications, later becoming a software quality assurance engineer and then a manager. Living in the Boston area, I took classes at the Arnold Arboretum and the former Radcliffe Seminars landscape design program. Looking to make a career change in my late 30s, I attended an event at which the director of horticulture at New England Wild Flower Society spoke about careers in public horticulture. My interest in native plants was really ignited when I took a workshop at the Conway School of Landscape Design taught by Heather McCargo, a former propagator at the Society. Curious, I visited Garden in the Woods, and while sitting on a bench in the Rare Plant Garden, I had an epiphany: I want to work here. I spent the 1999 season as a Horticulture intern at the Garden.

NPN: How did you join the staff?

CM: In the spring of 2000, after my internship, I was hired by nursery manager and propagator Bill Cullina, who trained me. My position was seasonal until I started year-round in 2002. During those early years, I was given opportunities to help other departments during the winter with projects including processing memberships and organizing the slide and image collection, which gave me a broader view of the organization as a whole. From the start, Bill was writing books and lecturing, so I worked independently a lot, collecting seed, growing plants, working with volunteers, stocking plants and assisting with plant sales, and more. During those years, our propagation staff consisted of Bill, me, and a six-month intern.
Photo: Cayte (third from R) with Bill Cullina (center, back) and other staff members and volunteers at Garden in the Woods, c. 2003, photographer unknown.

NPN: Why and when did the nursery move from Garden in the Woods?

CM: The nursery at the Garden was very successful, but we had no room to expand, and the site was shady. A committee of Harvard Business School grads explored how to expand the nursery enterprise and found there was opportunity in the retail market if we could expand physically. Various staff and board members scouted for new sites. A board member, Ruah Donnelly, located a large property with an operating nursery, Nasami Farm, in Whately, Massachusetts, about two hours west of the Garden. In 2003, the organization bought Nasami Farm and established a skeleton crew the next year. I was still working at the Garden, producing over 32,000 plants a year, sending seedlings to the Nasami crew to pot for sale at both locations. Construction of new greenhouses also began at Nasami that year.

NPN: Were the plants largely the same species you grow now?

CM: The plant palette in the nursery and at Garden in the Woods was broader, including North American natives and some Asian analogs (such as the native Jeffersonia diphylla and its Asian relative Jeffersonia dubia). When I moved to western Massachusetts in 2005 and was promoted to propagator, we further expanded the palette and production. With bountiful open space and full sun, we grew more trees and shrubs in larger pots and produced more cultivars in addition to seed-grown straight species. At the height, we more than doubled the earlier nursery production at the Garden.

NPN: When was Nasami's native plant center built and how did the new LEED Gold Certified facility affect nursery operations?

CM: Construction started in 2008 and finished in 2010. Until then, our office space was a minimally heated greenhouse complete with an outdoor porta-john, both of which became broiling or frigid during seasonal temperature extremes. The new building has more than met our basic needs. We have radiant-heat floors to help germinate seeds in winter, a seed-drying room to preserve seeds, and ample space for staff and volunteers to sort and clean seeds. The conditions are clean enough for us to produce ferns, which are easily contaminated by fungus.

NPN: You left the organization in 2007 and returned in 2011. In what capacity did you come back?

CM: In 2011 I was rehired as a part-time consultant at Nasami and became the full-time production manager in 2012, when the nursery was starting in a new direction. Until then we had been growing the broad plant palette I mentioned earlier. Now the organization decided to focus on its mission of conserving New England native plants. For the nursery, this meant growing plants from the seed of known ecotypes [genetically distinct geographic varieties or populations within a species that are adapted to specific environmental conditions]. This requires us to collect seed from diverse wild populations throughout the region, providing a unique biodiverse selection of plants for retail and. restoring landscapes.

NPN: How did that affect the nursery operation?

CM: It became vastly more complicated. We had to come up with a list of desirable common species native to our ecoregions [a major ecosystem defined by geography and receiving uniform sun exposure and moisture] and find large, healthy populations of these plants in the wild to allow for genetic diversity, which helps ensure that an entire population won't be wiped out by a single pest or disease. We had to figure out when the wild seed of various species ripens and, for some species, what they require to germinate. We must get permission from landowners to collect seed. All this requires a lot of record keeping, because seed-source provenance is important to track. We weren't set up to do any of this.

NPN: So, what did you do?

C.M: With help from staff members in horticulture, conservation, and retail, we developed a target species list, which we review and revise regularly. We originally planned that Plant Conservation Volunteers would collect seed, but they were too busy monitoring rare plants. With help from local community members, we eventually located many plant populations, mostly on private properties. Because we produce plants for sale, we can't collect on most public land. While I have collected a large portion of the seed over the years, volunteers and other staff members have made significant contributions. Together we have built up our offering of species grown from known-ecotype seed-from 49 species in 2013 to 153 species in 2020.

NPN: How do you keep track of the provenance?

C.M.: I developed a spreadsheet-based system for recording data about each collection including the collector, date, and location, as well as a system for coding each collection with a unique tracking ID. We keep these codes with the seeds and on labels that follow every plant produced from them, from the first flat of seedlings to the point of sale. The system works, but a true database would enable us to integrate our wide range of records like those for seed-collection-which landowner, who collected it and when, requirements for germination-with our propagation and potting schedules, customer order confirmations, shipping lists, and more.

Photo: Cayte collects seed from sheep-laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), ©Deb Donaldson.
Photo: Former Propagator Kate Stafford (L) and Cayte with an outbound shipment of plugs, photographer unknown.
NPN: Did anything else change when the nursery started on this new path?

C.M. We made the decision to focus on seed collection and propagation and to seek out partner nurseries to grow plants to retail size. We knew that the change also meant that our operation would be more efficient. We sought out partner nurseries to take our plants at the plug stage and grow them to retail size. It took four years to find partners with the right expertise to meet our standards, and it takes regular coordination to keep things operating smoothly. Each year we negotiate our production plan with our retail manager and partners, aiming to ship plugs to the partners within the limited window necessary for them to be potted and to root fully. I regard this arrangement as a big accomplishment. It enables us to maintain our productivity and fulfill the organization's mission by expanding the number of species we offer from known-ecotype seed.

NPN: Can you talk about the contract-growing program?

C.M. Before 2012 we had not done much contract growing for habitat restoration, but when we started growing plants from known-ecotype seed it was a logical extension of our operations. Since we introduced the service in 2013, our customers have included the Massachusetts Natural Heritage Program, Smith College, Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway, the Arnold Arboretum, the National Park Service Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation area, and of course, Garden in the Woods, to name a few. Though we now have three full-time nursery staff and many dedicated volunteers, our production capacity is limited, and we do our best to meet the increasing demands for retail and contracts.
Photo: Cayte gets her hands dirty in one of Nasami Farm's greenhouses, Alexis Doshas ©Native Plant Trust.
Gifts in honor of Cayte McDonough will support the seed collection program at Nasami and continue her legacy in the field and in the greenhouses. To celebrate Cayte's career and wish her well in retirement, please click here. To get stock-transfer information, click here, or call 508-877-7630 x3802. Thank you!

NPN: You and other Nasami staff members have experimented with hard-to-cultivate species. What are some examples?

C.M.: We had difficulty germinating Gaylussacia [huckleberry genus]. After some trial and error, I tried putting sown seed onto a heat mat for 30 days, allowing temperatures to cool at night, followed by refrigeration. Many seeds started to germinate within 30 days. We are still cracking it, with better germination some years than others, but are now able to grow more of the popular black huckleberry. My colleague Alexis Doshas [Cayte's successor] experimented with several methods of germinating Carex pensylvanica [Pennsylvania sedge], a popular replacement for turf grass and has substantially increased germination rates. Alexis describes the process in an article that will be published in Native Plants Journal. We continue to experiment with many other species, such as bearberry [ Arctostaphylos uva-ursi].

NPN: What are your favorite tasks in the nursery?

C.M.: I love working with people who enjoy learning and talking about native plants, experiencing their enthusiasm. I enjoy going out and scouting for plants, working with the plants in the greenhouses, getting my hands dirty. And in spring it never gets dull seeing the seeds split open and the cotyledons emerge. I feel proud to have helped over a million native plants get started here. It has been rewarding work, contributing to the health of our planet. Overall, what drives me is the passion I feel about the work we do at Native Plant Trust and the organization's mission. It has felt like my calling to work for an organization whose aim is to support our native flora and, by extension, our native ecosystems.

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Retiring after two decades with Native Plant Trust, Cayte McDonough, Nasami Farm Nursery Production Manager, leaves a thriving propagation center that reflects her passion for plants, her talent for systematic thinking, and her ability to build a mousetrap out of-well, anything.

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Weekly hours available, pollinator garden kits available starting mid-June.

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Blue Stem Natives is a nursery specializing in native plants for New England. Our plants are thoughtfully grown in southeastern Massachusetts.

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The Monarch Gardener (Ipswich) - May/June

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The Monarch Gardener (Ipswich) - May/June

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Farm stand open most Fridays and Saturdays through May and June, weather permitting.

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Large orders can still be placed via email after April 30th, for pick up by appointment in Ipswich, or come browse at the Hamilton nursery stand. Please see more info about payment, parking, and a plant list, on my nursery page before you come shop.

What people are saying about The Monarch Gardener:
"It's crazy how little people know about the importance of native plants, I've been on a personal marketing campaign to get people away from grass lawns and <big box store> plants. But people don't know where else to go. You are such an important resource for the community." -Anna P., Beverly MA Learn how to do your own Neighborhood Milkweed Project, find and raise your own monarch caterpillars, and explore a monarch garden plant list. For details visit the Monarch Gardener's Blog.

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Large orders can still be placed via email after April 30th, for pick up by appointment in Ipswich, or come browse at the Hamilton nursery stand. Please see more info about payment, parking, and a plant list, on my nursery page before you come shop.

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Grow Native Mass. (Waltham), Native Plant Sale June 9-11

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Grow Native Mass. (Waltham), Native Plant Sale June 9-11

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Native Plant Sale taking place a bit earlier than Pollinator Week.

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Grow Native Massachusetts | Every Garden Matters ~ Every landscape Counts

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We inspire people to action, across the Commonwealth, on behalf of native plants and the diversity of life they support.

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Do you maintain a pollinator garden on your property or on public land? If so, you can register your garden and contribute to a growing national database.

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1 out of 3 bites of food we take each day, and yet pollinators are at critical point in their own survival. Many reasons contribute to their recent decline. We know for certain, however, that more nectar and pollen sources provided by more flowering plants and trees will help improve their health and numbers. Increasing the number of pollinator-friendly gardens and landscapes will help revive the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across the country.

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Home - Million Pollinator Garden Challenge

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1 out of 3 bites of food we take each day, and yet pollinators are at critical point in their own survival. Many reasons contribute to their recent decline. We know for certain, however, that more nectar and pollen sources provided by more flowering plants and trees will help improve their health and numbers.

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The Native Plant Trust offers a variety of courses on cultivating ecologically-minded lawns, gardens, and landscapes, including this self-paced virtual class on Gardening for Pollinators.

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This online course teaches how to convert a yard into productive pollinator habitat. Learn about issues associated with pollinator decline and current conservation efforts, then explore a variety of pollinators and the native plants that support their life cycles. The course also covers basic pollinator garden design and provides step-by-step instructions for selecting plants and installing and maintaining these habitats. You can complete the course at your own pace. On average, it takes about 12 hours to complete. Click here to download the syllabus.

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class This online course teaches how to convert a yard into productive pollinator habitat. Learn about issues associated with pollinator decline and current conservation efforts, then explore a variety of pollinators and the native plants that support their life cycles.

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Metrowest Conservation Alliance Native Pollinator Task Force 

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Metrowest Conservation Alliance Native Pollinator Task Force 

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The MCA Native Pollinator Task Force has excellent pollinator protection resources posted on their website: https://www.svtweb.org/mca-native-pollinator-task-force