Pollinators are vital to creating and maintaining the ecosystems and habitats that many animals rely on for food and shelter. Many of the world’s crops depend, at least in part, on pollination, and pollinators are responsible for pollinating the majority of flowering plants.
But pollinators are often taken for granted and need more space to thrive. Providing spaces for pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and other insects and birds, to thrive allows for the continuing growth of other flowers and plants.
At Greenview, we create this space for the pollinators in the Pollinator Garden located east of the Project Grow site.
The Pollinator Garden offers something beautiful in every season. From early spring through late fall, vibrant blooms delight pollinators and visitors alike, providing an opportunity to learn about native plants. In late fall and winter, seed heads not only feed birds and other wildlife but also create stunning displays when dusted with snow or encased in ice.
In June, the garden bursts with color as early-blooming wildflowers reach their peak. Among the vibrant displays, you’ll find monarda, black-eyed Susan, fleabane, purple coneflower, nodding onion, butterfly weed, and many more.
In July, with the summer heat, many wildflowers thrive, filling the garden with mid-summer beauty. Among them are ironweed, purple coneflower, and gray-headed coneflower.
Many wildflowers and grasses flourish in the August heat, including various types of native sunflowers and goldenrod, Joe-Pye weed, brown-eyed Susan, and boneset.
Rattlesnake-master and goldenrod are key players in the garden in August, each offering beauty and ecological value. The spiky, globe-shaped blooms of rattlesnake-master and the vibrant yellow plumes of goldenrod attract a wide range of pollinators, providing essential nectar and pollen sources.
In October, as goldenrod fades, asters take center stage, transforming the garden landscape with plumes of white and shades of purple. Among them are heath aster, sky blue aster, New England aster, and others
In November, with cooler temperatures, plant foliage takes on vibrant fall colors, while seed heads and grass plumes add texture and interest.
During the winter months, seed heads and grasses add texture and interest, especially when lightly dusted with snow.
Creation and Stewardship of the Pollinator Garden
Efforts to establish a dedicated space for native wildflowers at Greenview began several years ago. In 2022, the Pollinator Garden expanded to span 8,000 square feet, showcasing a variety of native flowering plants, grasses, and shrubs. This long-term project continues to evolve, with years of growth and development ahead.
In 2022, FOG hired an environmental consultant to prepare a new ¼-acre site using environmentally-friendly methods. The area was tilled, solarized, and covered with wood chips to control non-native plants. In January, the crew planted forb plugs and seeded the area with an annual pollinator mix and cover crop.
The work on the expanded garden area continued in 2023. Friends of Greenview volunteers developed planting strategies, added new mulch paths, and kept weeds in check. In addition to dividing and transplanting existing plants, they introduced several new varieties of forbs and grasses. Over 200 plugs of native flowers and grasses were planted. FOG planted pollinator favorites such as broadleaf mountain mint, prairie dock, and white wild indigo, among others. FOG also purchased and planted several shrubs, including aronia and viburnum.
In 2024, we continued our work in the Pollinator Garden, enhancing its beauty and plant diversity. Over 200 native wildflower plugs and grasses were added, including prairie dropseed, side-oats grama, and little bluestem. Wildflowers such as rattlesnake-master, native sunflowers, blue lobelia, Ohio goldenrod, new varieties of asters, and milkweed were also planted. These additions were made possible thanks to grant funding from Ann Arbor Farm & Garden and the generosity of our donors. With the help of dedicated volunteers and interns, who handle planting, weeding, and maintaining paths, the garden continues to thrive.
