Greenburgh Insider: Greenburgh dedicates Pollinator garden at Hartsbrook Nature Preserve.

 

Thank you to the many dedicated volunteers and our parks department for this important initiative.

Almost two years ago Mai Mai Margules (Tarrytown) and Carol Sommerfeld (Ardsley)  reached out to me suggesting that the town expand Greenburgh's pollinator pathway and plant new pollinator gardens in town. This summer the town, with the help of a number of dedicated volunteers  tand the Greenburgh Parks and Recreation department created two additional pollinator gardens - one at AF Veteran Park off of Heatherdell Road  and the other at Hartsbrook Nature Preserve in Hartsdale off of Ridge Road. The Greenburgh Nature Center also has a beautiful pollinator garden on their grounds. This is an article from Vassar.edu about the importance of pollinator gardens.

https://pages.vassar.edu/environmentalcooperative/2017/01/27/why-build-a-pollinator-garden/

On Sunday morning the volunteers who worked very hard in hot weather to create the pollinator gardens celebrated our commitment to pollinator gardens with a dedication of a sign highlighting the importance of pollinator gardens. These are photos that Commissioner Gerry Byrne of the Parks department took:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ki9udBe2D4vUJLRd6

Three fourths of the worlds flowering plants and about 35% of the world's food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. the pollinator garden is intended  to cover food shortage only this time for insects. The goal is to provide sufficient food (nectar and pollen) to reverse the decline of pollinators, bees in particular. Bees are essential for the reproduction of many flowering plants but also are responsible for  pollinating billions of dollars worth of agricultural crops. 

When Mai Mai and Carol first discussed the importance of pollinator gardens many people had no idea of what a pollinator garden was. But, more and more people are planting native plants and pollinator gardens in their back yards. And people are also contacting their landscapers encouraging them to plant pollinators.. If you have a pollinator garden in your home - please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. Send some photos that could be shared. Highlight your experiences.

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor