Tag Archive for: gregear

RIWPS Sponsors Another Pollinator Garden

RIWPS has sponsored another pollinator garden this year at the Roger Williams National Historic Park in downtown Providence. The park has a visitor center and facilities office on North Main Street. Previously there were four raised beds containing herbs and vegetables. Aaron Erzinger, the facilities manager, was impressed with the pollinator garden at the Captain Wilbur Kelly House in Cumberland which was also sponsored by RIWPS and installed by members of the Seed Starters East group and requested assistance to have a pollinator garden replace some of the raised beds.

After assessing the site RIWPS member Sherry Dzamba put together a list of species which would be appropriate. As with the pollinator garden in Cumberland, the species chosen were selected from Robert Gegear’s list of local species favored by our native bees. Plants were donated by RIWPS from the inventory in Portsmouth as well as plants donated by Peggy Buttenbaum, Linda McDaniel and Sherry. The three RIWPS members and Aaron spent a day planting.

The park is located on (5) acres of land which was the original settlement of Providence in 1636.The garden is located on the section of Smith Street between North Main Street and Canal Street. We expect a colorful display from spring to fall.

Interested in helping to maintain either the garden in Cumberland or Providence?
Please email plantsales@riwps.org. We will be setting up a group of volunteers for each garden to meet periodically to weed and install new plants as needed.