The Maynard Pollinator Meadow at ArtSpace

06/25/2023

https://www.npr.org/2023/06/21/1182115459/monarch-butterfly-white-spot-migration?utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR3gCr0lACrdzEKnkP0KDZ3VUt4QzJtR-Sb9z9qkM9X_PPfy6z2LMLFBXho

Monarch butterflies with more white spots on their mostly orange-and-black wings are more successful at long-distance migration. Some scientists think the spots may affect airflow around their wings.

04/21/2023

Green Maynard Earth Day Fair is this Saturday!

Visit our booth at the Maynard Earth Day Fair from 10am to 2pm at the Maynard Public Library. Find out about native perennials, native bees, and sign up for our Free growing native plants workshop on April29th. We’ll have another free native wildflower seed giveaway but they go fast–stop by early!

P***y Willows are a very important early plant for our native animals.

03/14/2023

An important read to expand your knowledge of Why native planting is important.

This article was written by Heather Holm, photos also provided by Heather Holm. Learn more about Heather and her work here. While the most famous insect specialist that visits our gardens is the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), as many as 25% of native bee species in a particular region in the....

03/10/2023

See if you can find a bee napping this spring?

02/12/2023

Super Bee Sunday
Bumble bees (Bombus spp) are superstars of the pollinator world. Their long work day, efficient pollen-transport structures, and ability to pollinate a wide variety of plants combine to make them true MVPs! But how (and where) do they spend the cold winter months?
Like honey bees, most species of bumble bee are eusocial (living in a cooperative group). However, unlike honey bee colonies that can live for many years, bumble bee colonies are annual, meaning that new colonies are started from scratch every year. Only the new, future queens will survive the winter. These special ladies (called gynes) will spend the autumn drinking a lot of nectar to build up their fat reserves. They will then mate and look for a safe place to spend the winter–usually a small hole in the ground, just big enough for one, called a hibernacula.
Once safely underground, the bee’s metabolic rate drops to conserve energy, and her body produces antifreeze compounds to protect her from the cold. She won’t eat or leave the nest until environmental cues let her know that spring has sprung!
The new queens will be very hungry after the long winter, so providing plenty of early-spring nectar resources is crucial to support a healthy population. The blooms of native trees, shrubs and spring ephemerals are just the ticket to provide the energy they need to build a new team of pollinating champions.
Sleep tight, ladies–spring is on the way!
Photo: © Heather Holm

10/13/2022

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Thursday October 13th

Sorry for the late notice.

Changes in Maynard Bird and Mammal Life
Presented by Peter Alden, author of the popular Audubon Field Guide to New England, among many other titles with over three million copies sold, and leader of over 300 nature tours to over 100 countries.

Major changes in land use, hunting and trapping laws, and fairly recent pollution, pesticide, and invasive alien plant issues have created opportunities for some and withdrawal for others. In addition, we will now witness how climate change and the decline of most insects will further modify our fauna. Peter Alden will discuss the implications of these changes for local Maynard-area wildlife.

This program is presented through the Maynard Library. Call for more details.

09/19/2022

Thank You to everyone who came out yesterday and made our event the place to be! Most of the plants sold, lots of questions answered, and the kids had a blast! A fantastic day!

09/16/2022

Big Artspace Weekend!
**Inside Out Open Studios on Saturday from 10-4pm.
**Pollinator Meadow event Sunday from 2-4pm.
We will have close to 200 native plants for sale from Blue Stem Natives. AND Fundraiser Seeds for sale! Foxglove Beardtongue and Partridge Peas!

Big shout out to Carolyn Wirth and her Native Plant Flashcards!

09/07/2022

Get tips on how to create your own pollinator garden and purchase native plants. As well as support Maynard's own Pollinator Meadow! Lots of fun for the kids too!

09/02/2022

Mating and Feeding!

09/02/2022

Courting Dance, Mating, and Feeding.......Monarchs doin' their thang! Watch video closely to see the dance.
See the next post for the mating and feeding. FB wouldn't let me post photos with the video.