Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22nd, commemorating the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. This year, the Friends made a month of it!
On March 26th, Friends’ volunteers MaryKay Fox, Glenn Davis, Lucinda Keith and Joan Barkin potted 67 bare root trees and shrubs purchased from Chief River Nursery in Wisconsin. The plants included Basswood, Highbush Cranberry, American Elderberry, Red Dogwood, Butterfly bush, River Birch, Redbud, Nannyberry Viburnum, Tulip Poplar and Buttonbush.
A few weeks later on April 19th, the Friends joined Mashpee Conservation and AmeriCorps Seniors in a planting event at the Pickerel Cove Conservation Area in Mashpee. Over 70 Paw Paw and White Oak trees were planted around the perimeter of a field designated to become a future home for pollinators. The Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) is native to the Eastern US, yielding a sweet fruit similar in taste to a banana.
The Friends also contributed over 40 plants that were planted in the pollinator gardens at Pickerel Cove, Red Brook Road and the Jehu Pond Conservation area. These plants included American Elderberry bush, New England Aster, Joe Pye Weed, Maple leaf Viburnum, Alternative-leaf Dogwood, Maple leaf Viburnum, Red Bud Tree, Wild Raisin bush (Cassinoiudes nudum), Highbush Cranberry, Nannyberry bush (Viburnum Lentago), Basswood tree and Ninebark.
Then, on April 19th and 20th, another order of bare root trees was received from the New Hampshire State Forest Nursery and needed potting. Friends’ volunteers once again made it happen. These varieties included Button Bush, Pussy Willow, Red Osier Dogwood, Spice Bush, Alternate Leaf Dogwood and Elderberry.
Finally, on Earth Day itself, April 22nd, MaryKay, Lucinda and a group of volunteers at the Falmouth Rod & Gun Club potted Pussy Willow and Spicebush plants for later use in their pollinator fields.
All of the potted trees and shrubs will ultimately be planted at our various pollinator gardens and other Refuge or Refuge Partner locations. Some of the plants were purchased through a Clean Trail Grant from ExtremeTerrain that FMNWR was awarded in December 2022. Others were funded through the generous donations of FMNWR members. Thanks to all of our donors for making these efforts possible!
Great job everyone!