FOOD & HABITAT DESERTS
Do you live near one?
How you can reverse that.
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Pollinators in our region need our help. The green areas on this Stamford map indicate registered residential, commercial and city properties on the pollinator pathway. But the white areas? Many are pollinator deserts lacking essential food and habitat for our native pollinators.
The City of Stamford maps every tract of the pollinator pathway for us. Take the pledge to plant native plants, avoid using pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides) and we will add your address to the pathway.
The best way to help expand the pollinator pathway is to plant a native tree, such as an oak. A single oak will sustain hundreds of species of moths and caterpillars important for pollination and feeding birds. If you live in an apartment, plant native plants in container pots on your balcony or patio or encourage your landlord or HOA to get on the pathway.
For those with extensive lawns (water guzzlers), think about shrinking the area and adding native plants, shrubs or trees which tolerate both droughts and floods better than turf grass and ornamental plants.
Do you employ a landscape or lawn care service? Make sure they use organic practices. Find a NOFA certified lawn care service. Avoid unnecessary spring/fall spraying. Stay tuned for upcoming emails on how to prepare for spring without resorting to toxic pesticides.
Are you already using pollinator pathway practices but are not on this map? Let us know and we'll add your address. Ask your neighbors to Join the Pathway. Add a Pollinator Pathway sign to your property.
Questions about Pollinator Pathway Stamford? Ask us!
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NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES
Oriental Bittersweet
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Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is an aggressive non-native climbing vine found in mixed hardwood and pine forests. It often appears in the understory of trees, with stems that twine around and strangle tree limbs and shrubs. The weight can cause uprooting and toppling. Spreading occurs by root suckering and by birds eating the conspicuous red fruit in yellow casing.
Pull small plants including the entire root system. For large, established vines make two cuts, one near the base and the other about 2-3 feet off the ground. Continue to cut larger vines every couple of weeks to prevent resprouting and to deplete the root system. Never pull the vine down from the tree because you risk pulling a dead branch down with it.
Do not compost. Throw away in the trash.
Native alternatives: Trumpet Honeysuckle, Fox Grape, Virginia Creeper, Virgin's Bower.
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SLITHERY SEED SPREADER
Help us name this snake.
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We, along with our student volunteers, were frequently startled by this garter snake in the pollinator garden at Kosciuszko Park. But our surprise turned into fascination when we learned that snakes can help distribute plant seeds by eating rodents that might have seeds tucked in their cheeks. Because snakes swallow prey whole, seeds pass through their digestive tract. We look forward to keeping an eye out for our snake friend next year. Can you help us come up with a fitting name for it?
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BEE CONNECTED
Join Pollinator Pathway Stamford and add your property to the map.
Take the pledge to help bees and other pollinators.
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