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06/19/2023 07:20 AMA new pollinator garden is growing on the Branford green. It’s the first garden of its type to be installed on the town green, but not the first pollinator garden to be installed by the Town of Branford at places including parks. All of the gardens support a growing pollinator pathway throughout the town.
“We’ve been establishing pollinator gardens throughout town through the efforts of Public Works, the Conservation Commission, and working with other organizations that recognize the importance of these gardens for the part they play in supporting pollinators, and their benefit to the ecosystem,” said Branford first selectman Jamie Cosgrove.
Cosgrove credits the idea to develop a pollinator garden on the green to Branford resident Craig Oveson. Oveson is known to many in town, and beyond, for his monarch butterfly conservation and awareness efforts, which he documents online at craigthebutterflyman.com
“He’s had this idea for a while; but we had to balance the use of the green with where we could locate it,” said Cosgrove.
Earlier this spring, Cosgrove and Oveson walked the green and determined a good location could be an otherwise vacant, grassy slope located between First Baptist Church at 957 Main Street and Blackstone Avenue’s intersection with the green.
Next, Oveson and Branford Public Works supervisor Gary Zielinski met with the Branford Green Committee to discuss the idea. The advisory group includes appointed stakeholders from the churches on the green as well as other community organizations. The committee stewards the green and makes recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
Green committee chairman David Minicozzi said the committee reviewed the concept and unanimously supported the idea of installing the pollinator garden at the suggested location.
“We have people on the Green Committee that have knowledge in these things. One, in particular, is a master gardener,” said Minicozzi. “We thought it was a good idea. It looks great, and is going to add to some panache to the green in a space that is otherwise underutilized.”
Zielinski, who is also Branford’s Tree Warden, designed the approximate 100’ x 100’ free-form pattern involving several garden beds. He determined which plants to install with assistance from Oveson. The installation includes a mix of perennials, annuals sowed by seed, and nursery plants; all of which attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. A central garden includes some pollinator-friendly perennials purchased with a the gift of a donation from First Baptist Church and planted by a member of the church.
“It’s been a really cool project, to see how people have come along and helped out,” said Zielinski.
“I know Gary’s gotten a lot of positive feedback, especially from people who are starting to see it flower, and are realizing what it could be. Some people have actually been donating to it, so it’s been growing,” said Cosgrove.
“It’s kind of unique,” said Zielinski. “There are plenty of pollinator gardens in other towns, but I don’t think there are many towns that are doing this on their green, at this scale.”
The new garden’s layout of segmented beds is meant to encourage not only pollinators, but people.
“It’s got some wide, grassy paths, so people can can meander through it and see the honey bees and other pollinators that will be in it,” said Zielinski.
As with other environmentally-friendly installation projects undertaken with the assistance of Branford Public Works, Zielinski said Public Works Department crew members are to be commended for another job well done.
“They’ve got a huge part in this. They take a lot of pride in what they do,” said Zielinski.