Productive day at the pollinator fields. With the help of Stacy Jones, Zach Jones, MaryKay Fox and Linda Harris we potted up 117 bare root shrubs in about 2 hours.
On May 7th with the help of Scout Troop 42 and club volunteers we will plant about 55 of these shrubs plus numerous other plants that we are in the process of collecting into our fields. The remaining shrubs will be planted in other areas of the Mashpee Refuge.
Today we potted up:
10 Ninebark
6 Winterberry
12 Highbush Cranberry Viburnums
15 Yellow twig dogwood
13 Balsam Fir
17 Grey Dogwood
5 Alternate leaf dogwood
22 Silky dogwood
17 Red Twig dogwood
We have a wonderful meadow at the apple fields which edge up to a wooded area. However, it was lacking a transition zone of shrubs between the meadows and woods. On the north side of the apple fields, Tom and his chainsaw gang cleared up a strip of the wooded area that will allow us plant a hedgerow of native shrubs. Game birds, rabbits and other wildlife require woody shrubs for both shelter and food. The shrubs we potted today are mostly multi-purpose that produce both fruit and flowers. The flowers attract pollinators and also insects that feed baby birds. The fruits and berries are food sources for older birds and small game. On May 7th we will be planting many of the shrubs to form a hedgerow on the northern edge of the apple fields. If we improve the habitat, the wildlife will come.
Thanks again to Stacy and Zach for their help today.
KC
