Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathways: Jean Devine, Brucie Moulton, Sarah Wang, and Kim DeAndrade; and Elaine Crowder of Arlington MA Invasives Ever wonder why certain native or invasive plants take over your garden? Want a few tips on how to change the dynamic to keep your property biodiverse? Introduction Learn about pollination systems, garden maintenance, and the features and benefits of a group of native plants (what we call the “superpower” group) that support at-risk bees, butterflies and birds. Members of the Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathway group also will introduce you to our region’s most prevalent invasive plants and discuss strategies for curtailing them, as well as good native alternatives. Design Learn how to choose plants and places to please those pollinators, birds, and visitors. Session 1 will introduce keystone plant species by season; show templates and examples of different gardens; and end with a primer on how to do a basic site analysis of your yard plus look at a few completed examples. The next week, students will present what they learned from doing their own site analysis, discuss their garden ideas, and get input from the instructor and panel. Bring questions about your yard or certain plants. Please note: Attendance at the Introduction is not required for the Design course. The Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathway Group (MCPPG), comprised of 150+ native plant enthusiasts, specialists and educators, promotes native-plant pollinator gardens in our region to support declining populations of native bees, butterflies and birds.
