The Pollinator Meadow

Spring Planting

This past spring, the dedicated Butterfly Garden volunteers undertook a strategic planting project at the previously cleared Pollinator Meadow. They collaborated with Jean Epiphan from Rutgers University, who provided valuable insights and resources on how to best manage the area. Jean, who also a coordinator for the Rutgers Environmental Stewards program, suggested Short-toothed Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) as an ideal starter plant due to its high deer resistance and adaptability to the local soils and conditions at the Celery Farm.

Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program

Jean's role in the Rutgers Environmental Stewards (RES) program, which educates program participants about pressing environmental issues in New Jersey and connects them with volunteer opportunities, proved instrumental. Through this program, Jean introduced Matt Ceplo, a Westwood resident and recent RES program graduate, to the Butterfly Garden volunteers. With his experience in creating pollinator habitats and enthusiasm for supporting native pollinators, Matt was a perfect addition to the team, helping to develop a maintenance plan for the meadow.

Planting and Maintenance

In addition to the Mountain Mint, an annual wildflower seed mix was sown to minimize weed pressure and erosion. To prepare the soil, existing weeds were cut as low as possible using an electric string trimmer, and the clippings were raked away to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. Throughout the summer, the area has been maintained by mowing to a height of 6 to 8 inches to prevent perennial weeds like porcelain berry and mugwort from becoming established and to control annual weeds from seeding.

Upcoming Fall Plans

This fall, prior to Thanksgiving, we plan to plant native perennial pollinator-friendly flower plugs in the areas that have been mowed. Planting at this time of year helps ensure that weeds have ceased their growth and gives the plugs a chance to establish before winter. We will continue to monitor the meadow next year, as it typically takes a few seasons for perennials to establish strong root systems and compete with invasive weeds. During this period, patience is key, as the meadow's growth and development may seem slow to us but is just a brief moment in nature's timeline. The saying, “first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap” applies here.

Establishing a meadow requires time and patience, but the benefits for native pollinators and the ecosystem make it a worthwhile endeavor.

Update

The plugs were planted in the first week of November.