Pollinator insects are just one part of an ecosystem - but they are critical and foundational.  Most plants are pollinated, not by wind, but by animals - with bees, wasps, and flies doing most of the work.  Lepidoptera (i.e. butterflies and moths) also play a role in pollination, but they are critical because their caterpillars serve as the most important food for baby birds.  The USDA (US Dept of Agriculture) estimates that 80 percent of all flowering plants - including our food crops - depend on animal pollinators to set seed and fruit.

How do we attract pollinators? We do this by planting a diverse selection of native annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees, all of which are critical sources of pollen and nectar. 

Is a healthy ecosystem only about insects?   A healthy ecosystem is more than just the plants and the insects - it's clean water, healthy soil, and the life that lives in both.  According to entomologist Doug Tallamy  and others, taking care of the needs of bees, lepidoptera, and other insects is key to providing a sustainable livelihood for nearly all living plants and animals. Linking our woodlands and gardens together in a corridor or pathway is a great place to start building a healthy ecosystem.

This website aims to identify and connect us all to the many public and private pollinator gardens in Greenfield. By using this website we can learn about the pathways available to pollinating insects and birds within our community.  Here we map the "stepping stones"  between the various sections of the natural pollinator corridors identified in the FRCOG Regional Pollinator Plan and the specific plan for Greenfield.

 Click here to learn more about this effort. 

Click on the photos below to learn more about these gardens 

and the volunteer opportunities at them.

John Zon Pollinator garden July 2022