Native Pollinator Gardens

"What if each American landowner converted half of his or her yard to productive native plant communities? Even moderate success could collectively restore some semblance of ecosystem function to more than 20 million acres of what is now ecological wasteland. " - Ecologist Douglas Tallamy

Pollinators of all kinds are in steep decline.  We need these insects to help keep our trees and flowers growing and multiplying, without pollinators our ecosystem will collapse- we won't have apples or blueberries or wildflowers.    Humans have altered the landscape so much that the natural system is struggling.   But WE CAN HELP - if each of us plants native plants and removes a portion of our lawns and plants flowers, shrubs and trees in its place, we can support the pollinators and bring them back to abundance and restore the ecological balance one garden at a time.  

Bombus Fervidus - Rare Bee

Overview of Pollinator Gardens

In 2022, the City of Marlborough, Massachusetts created its first pollinator garden at Ghiloni Park, called the Ghiloni Pollinator Garden. Marlborough is taking steps to support the preservation of native flora and fauna. By opening the first pollinator garden, native pollinators, like many species of bumblebees, are given a space to thrive with native plants that they evolved alongside. The Conservation Commission hopes to create more pollinator gardens in the future. With the creation of this and future pollinator gardens, residents can learn more about creating their own pollinator gardens in their backyards!

About the Ghiloni Pollinator Garden

Location

Ghiloni Pollinator Garden MapThe Ghiloni Pollinator Garden is located at 239 Concord Road, Marlborough, MA 01752, by the running track.

Rules & Regulations

People are welcome, and encouraged, to explore the garden using the stone path that surrounds it. Visitors are asked not to walk on or through the plants. Additionally, these plants are not for taking, and the plot is not open to visitor gardening or watering. The plants are specially curated for native pollinators, so it is important that the intended plants in the garden are the only plants in the garden.

"You don't have to save biodiversity for a living but you can save it where you live!" - Dr. Gegear

History of the Ghiloni Pollinator Garden

Ghiloni Pollinator Garden Plant PlanIn June 2022, with the help of two Girl Scouts, the pollinator garden debuted at Ghiloni Park. The idea for this garden came from the Bumblebee Project (BBP), a regional effort to introduce native plants and habitat requirements for at-risk bumblebee species in our region. Karin Paquin, a member of the BBP steering committee, a Marlborough resident and at that time a Marlborough Conservation Commissioner, was joined by Paul Goldman who has been involved in a number of community projects, to lead the effort in Marlborough. They evaluated multiple sites but ultimately decided that Ghiloni was perfect, in large part because Ghiloni is a very popular flagship property in Marlborough. With the help of Marlborough Conservation, the garden was approved. The two Girl Scouts, Gabriella Casto and Skylar Monahan, offered their help with the garden to achieve their silver award. The plants chosen for this project are all native plants selected to provide nectar and pollen to at-risk bumblebees and a variety of other native pollinators. Information was provided by Dr. Gegear, a UMass Dartmouth biology professor who offers a comprehensive list of native plants for at-risk pollinators on his website, which can be found on the Bumble Bee Project (BBP) webpage.

Ghiloni Pollinator Garden Tours

Garden TourOn June 26, 2024, volunteers Karin Paquin and Paul Goldman led a tour of the Ghiloni Pollinator Garden. The tour was designed to teach the public about the importance of supporting native pollinators by providing the plants they need to thrive. The goal of the tour was to educate and inspire people to learn about the critical importance of native pollinators and to create their own pollinator gardens at home. For more information about this and future tours in the region, please refer to the Bumblebee Project page link. Bumblebee Project member communities run tours of pollinator gardens throughout the region, which are listed on the BBP site.

Ghiloni Pollinator Garden Contact

If you are interested in more information about the garden or tours, please contact Priscilla Ryder at the Conservation Department.

Other Pollinator Gardens

In 2023 the Ward Park Senior Center planted a rain garden using native plants. This garden serves many purposes, part of which is to help biodiversity and native pollinators.

The recently renovated Marlborough Public Library garden was planted with native plants to help pollinators and local biodiversity. These plants are labeled so you can replicate this garden in your own yard or patio.

Ghiloni Park is also home to the Woodland Shade Garden, which is maintained by the Marlborough Garden Club. This garden contains native pollinator plants which love the shade.

As new gardens are established in Marlborough, they will be uploaded here.