Pollinator Garden

The TD Friends of the Environment Foundation has generously sponsored the creation of the pollinator garden, providing funding for all plants.

History

In 2021, the Town of St. Marys planted our first Pollinator Garden, also commonly referred to as a Wildflower Area. This 165 square metre garden area is located within the St. Marys Cemetery and adjacent to Sparling Bush. Types of flowers initially planted include Black-eyed Susan, bergamot, coreopsis, purple coneflower, white coneflower, sedum, balloon flower, butterfly milk weed, and blanket flower. This is a pilot project and will help us make informed decisions regarding future additional pollinator gardens. Throughout 2021, Town Staff will monitor this garden and anticipate that the plants will reach full growth in 2022.

Benefits of a Pollinator Garden

A pollinator garden:

• Acts as a beautification method and amenity along the Town’s trail network;
• Supports dwindling populations of native insects that pollinate food crops including butterflies, moths and bees (particularly important in increasingly built up environments);
• Provides a habitat for various animals and insects including caterpillars, spiders, birds, frogs, newts, toads and other small animals;
• Cleans the air (plants consume carbon dioxide and create about ten times more oxygen than they use);
  Helps control unwanted bugs (birds, bugs, and bats that a pollinator garden may attract will eat problem bugs ensuring that no single pest takes over).
• To celebrate the planting of the Town's first Pollinator Garden, we held a colouring contest. We had almost 50 creative entries including one large project from St. Marys Emergency Child Care.