Our Pollinator Garden Project in Lenox 2024 - 2026

 

The latest project that our Academy Garden Club of Lenox has undertaken is the Pollinator Garden in Lenox.
This began in 2024 and will not be completed until 2026.

Our goal was to develop a pollinator friendly garden using native perennial plants that was colourful, attractive to pollinators and interesting throughout the growing season in a location where the Lenox community could enjoy it.

 

In the beginning we went in front of town officials and received permission to use municipal land for the Pollinator bed. A place was selected that would give us optimal sun exposure, be noticeable to everyone and not be in the way of (or shade) the community garden.

This Civic project is an important addition to the Lenox community by adding a specific pollinator garden at the edge of Lenox’s central Lilac Park and Band stand, a popular Community gathering space.

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The space of 10’ x 5’ was dug down and then

Tom Romeo built a raised bed for us with

lumber supplied by Tom Stodi of NE Fences.

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                                                 Holiday Farm delivered soil in September 2024,

                                                 and the bed was secured with a tarp for the winter.

 

 

 

 

​During the winter of 2024 a group of enthusiastic members met to review the Landscape design donated by Chris Ferrero (who is not a Club member) and decide on what type of specimens would work well.

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This Pollinator Garden is adjacent to the community garden and provides education opportunities and aesthetics. Planting design which was done in consultation with Master Gardener Chris Ferrero considered the natural landscaping of Lilac Park as well as the larger community garden. The combination of native perennials that attract pollinators is upper most in the design with plants selected for the sunny site and raised bed, that provide color and an attractive display throughout the growing season. In addition, care was taken to select plants that would not cast shade on the Community gardens. From engagement with Town leaders, to design consultation and thoughtful implementation, Academy Garden Club (AGC) members have kept the goal of natural habitat for pollinators foremost in each phase of this project.

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In April 2025 the tarp came off, the soil was leveled, and a soil specimen was sent to the UMASS lab for an in-depth soil analysis. The results came with a very high nitrogen component so in May the bed was amended and left to rest for a month.

During the month of May several members visited nurseries to look at specimens and then we purchased fourdifferent types of perennial flowers and the anchor bush. They are 3 Heliopsis, 3 Ansonia, 3 Echinacea, 1 Bee Balm and a Deutzia bush.

Early June the bed was planted. Several annuals were added this year while we all wait to determine if the plantings are successful or if the plan will need to be altered next spring.

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​By August the Pollinator bed was flourishing and has been admired by many Lenox Residents and Visitors.

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The AGC proven Maintenance plan has a Coordinator that communicates with volunteers who have signed up on a weekly rotation for the growing season to engage in dead heading, watering, weeding, and pruning as needed and includes Spring and Fall cleanup and winter preparation.  The cost of long-term maintenance is included in our Club’s Annual budget.

 

14 members have been actively involved (over 30% of our Active members) and have volunteered over 62 hours to date.  This will increase as we maintain the Pollinator Garden going forward.

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In spring 2026 our club will invest in more perennials and the project should be complete. We have a roster for the Maintenance of the Pollinator bed - all Active members of the Club sign up for a week to water, weed and dead-head the bed from May to October each year, with a small group putting the garden to bed in the fall and “opening” it each spring. Water is available in the water butt behind the nearby building Church on the Hill. This maintenance plan has been established over many years for other Civic projects that we run.

The goal is to establish the Pollinator bed with perennials, with a few annuals added each year to provide additional color throughout the seasons.

We would like to thank the following partners for their kind contributions:

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• The Town of Lenox allocated the land for this Pollinator Garden.

• Chris Ferrero (professional, not a Club member) provided the Design,

• Todd Stodi, of NE fences donated the lumber for the raised bed,

• Tom Romeo (not a member) built the raised bed from donated lumber,

• Holiday Farm gave us a discount on Soil