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Pollinator Gardens

Pollinator Gardens in Hopkinton

Pollinator gardens attract bees, birds and other insects and animals that help pollinate plants. Without them, we would not have much of the food crops we eat. Sadly, development of natural landscapes - with lawns, roads, parking areas, and buildlings - plus the use of pesticides and the prevalence of invasive species have removed the ecological homes needed by pollinators and decimated their populations. Planting a pollinator garden is one way to help restore pollinators and the habitat they and we need to survive.

The purpose of the pollinator project is to educate the community about the crucial need for pollinator gardens and encourage more of them to be built. Helping with these public gardens is an important way to learn and we invite anyone who can to participate, even if just for an hour. Whether or not you can help, we invite you to visit the gardens, learn more, and perhaps start a garden of your own.

Volunteers Needed for Watering

Instructions for Volunteers

When to water (all locations)
Watering is needed May through October. It's best to water in the morning or night if you can because during the daytime, the sun and heat evaporate part of what you add, so some water is wasted and doesn't go to the plants. Water on the day you signed up for, but if it rained (more than a sprinkling) the day before or is raining on your day, you don't need to water. If you aren't sure if watering is needed, contact us and we'll let you know.

At Hughes Farm, 192 Hayden Rowe

See When to Water, above. There is a spigot located in the parking area, and near it, a hose that is covered up under a "tarp". The hose is attached to the spigot. Turn on the spigot by lifting the green "handle". Remove the tarp, unroll the hose, and take the spray nozzle end to the garden area - it should stretch to the needed length when the water is running. Try not to have it cutting across the parking lot or someone might drive over it. Using a lighter setting (not jet), water each plant near the base/ground and water deeply so the roots become fully soaked - stop when water pools around the plant. After watering all the plants, turn off the spigot, roll up the hose, and cover the hose with the tarp and rock. If you have question or concerns or suggestions, please contact us.

At Pratt Field, between 108 and 126 Fruit Street
See When to Water, above. Refer to the following picture. Unlatch the gates so you can enter the gardens to get close to the plants. There are containers (bins and buckets) surrounding the garden that are filled with pond water and covered with lids. Inside containers nearest the gates are empty gallon jugs to use for watering. Remove the lid from a container. Fill a jug with the water from a container. Use the jug to water each plant at the base/near the ground, repeating the fill process as needed - most plants will need 1 gallon (the size of the jug), with the big bush needing 5 gallons.

After watering all the plants at Pratt Field, LATCH BOTH GATES CLOSED, put the jugs into the containers nearest the gate, and put the lids back onto all containers - don't close them, just set them on top and put the rock back on it so the empty buckets won't blow away. Don't move the buckets, or if you do, please put them back where you got them from. You won't need all of the water - just use what you need. You don't need to refill the buckets. If there isn't enough water in the containers, or you have questions or concerns or suggestions, please contact us.

About the YMCA Garden

Shaurya Patni created a pollinator garden at the YMCA in Hopkinton for his Eagle Scout project in the spring of 2024 with the help of many scout volunteers. Shaurya and his family applied to add more gardens in town using Hopkinton's participatory budget. As a result, in July 2024, two additional gardens were added on public land, one at the Hughes Farm property, 192 Hayden Rowe, and a second at Pratt Fields on Fruit St. More are in the planning stages. Suhani Patni helped our committee develop the signs and materials to educate visitors about the topic and how to make gardens at home or work or on community properties.

Many thanks to all who contributed or are slated to: The Patni/Jain family, Hopkinton Scout Troops, Weston Nurseries and their design and education manager, Trevor Smith, the YMCA, the Town of Hopkinton, the Sustainable Green Committee, Open Space Preservation Commission and chair Ed Harrow, the Trails Committee, Trails Club, Hopkinton Area Land Trust (HALT) and president Morrie Gasser, Hopkinton Scouts, and other volunteers.

About Hughes Farm Garden

This pollinator garden has plants that especially attract butterflies and moths. Walk the beautiful trails and explore the meadows here. See if you can identify some of these plants in their natural habitat.

Pollinator plants at Hughes Farm provide pollen for endangered native bee species from June to October and provide nectar from May to August.

About Pratt Field Garden

This pollinator garden has plants that attract endangered bee species. Walk the beautiful trails and explore the meadows here. See if you can identify some of these plants in their natural habitat.

The plants here provide pollen for endangered native bee species from July to September and nectar from July to September. In addition, the Virginia Strawberry at Pratt Field provides an example of a low-to-the-ground native plant to replace portions of your lawn.

Celebrating our Gardens

In September, 2024 we celebrated the completion of the three new pollinator gardens. Special guest U.S. Representative James McGovern joined community members in acknowledging the importance of the project and the hundreds of volunteer hours that made it happen. Thanks to all who came out to support the gardens.

WHDH Boston 7 • MetroWest Daily News • Project Recap

Learn More

Native Plants: An Introduction from Weston Nurseries provides garden designs, including species and arrangements.
Our Going Organic page is a handy checklist.
For information about other projects, see the Bumble Bee Project and the Beecology Project.
See our Lawns, Gardens, and Water page for more information about native plants and pollinators.

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