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June 19th, 2024 by Northern Woodlands Pollinator Garden Photo Blog

Breaking Ground on our Pollinator Garden

Worktruck arrives
The day has finally arrived! Our contractor, Jon Melendy, arrives with his truck and excavator to begin work. The front yard will be transformed from lawn to native plants. Fun fact: Jon grew up around the corner from our headquarters! Photos by Emily S. Rowe.

Since moving our nonprofit headquarters to Lyme, New Hampshire, we’ve wanted to replace our front lawn with a native plant pollinator garden. This year, thanks to the Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation, the Lyme Foundation, and generous neighbors, we’ve been able to get this project started!

The first phase of our pollinator garden installation involves removing sod and laying in gravel paths. These paths will accommodate individuals with limited mobility and provide a sturdy foundation to our garden for years to come.

Follow this blog for progress updates and visit our Pollinator Garden Campaign to get involved.

Breaking Ground Gallery

Staff meeting excitement Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Staff meeting with excavator at work outside the conference room.
Work begins Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Goodbye, juniper!
Found the well Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Clearing the area around the wellhead.
Take out shrub Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Some existing foundation plants are removed and some are selected to remain so we aren’t so exposed. The apple tree stays!
Wheelbarrow Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Nancy’s pretty excited about our new wheelbarrow; we are quickly becoming regulars at the local hardware store.
Sod removal Photo: Emily S. Rowe
We could have used cardboard to smother the grass, but this is a large area we’re planting, so the machine does the work.
Day one Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Day one complete! The chair supports a rhododendron we decided to keep.
Garden day Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Day two and we’re ready to roll!
Garden layout Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Checking the garden plan as we start to lay out paths.
Garden layout Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Measure twice, dig once!
Digging paths Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Checking grade – always wanted to learn how to use a grade laser!
Concerned percy Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Percy keeping a concerned eye on the construction.
Day three garden Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Day three enthusiasm!
Pollinators Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Signs of pollinators and some cool fungus on the common.
Happy gardener Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Our wood chips will be used to mulch the garden beds and come from trees that were damaged in the spring’s last snow storm. How convenient is that?
Crushed rock paths Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Base layers are important! One circle is almost complete.
Wrapped roots Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Protecting the roots of the apple tree by making root burritos.
Starter plants Photo: Emily S. Rowe
The plants wait patiently for their place in the garden. The purple giant hyssop is going to bloom! | Photo: Nancy Farwell

by Northern Woodlands

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Discussion *

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Jul 16, 2024

This is interesting. I would like to know more about the effective use of the “root burritos” for protecting/preserving a tree while re-landscaping with stone.

Sherry
“
Jun 24, 2024

Nancy- So nice to see the start of the garden. I met you at the Natural History conference in Albany this April and you were talking about this project. Love the design. Best with the project. Hopefully the rains didn’t damage it.

Pat Liddle

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