Planting and maintaining pollinator gardens in the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge are among the most lasting and rewarding projects that the Friends support. Each year we cultivate and care for several designated gardens along Refuge trails and other areas within the Mashpee Refuge, fostering essential habitat for bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators. Following are some highlights of our achievements over the years.
View the changes in our pollinator garden at the Red Brook Road trailhead from June to October 2022. Watch the video…
In October of 2022, the Friends published a new brochure about establishing nectar and pollen sources for Cape Cod pollinators. It is intended to guide home gardeners in creating a garden that fosters habitat for pollinators and provides a visually appealing and sustainable landscape for your home. Read more…
On July 20th, the US Fish and Wildlife and partners had the opportunity to participate and lead activities for the Mashpee Wampanoag’s “Preserving Our Homelands 2022 Tribal Youth Summer Camp.” Staff from the Eastern MA NWR Complex were joined by several partners including Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation-Bureau of Forest Fire Control and MassWildlife. Read more…
Productive day at the pollinator fields. With the help of Stacy Jones, Zach Jones, MaryKay Fox and Linda Harris we potted up 117 bare root shrubs in about 2 hours. On May 7th with the help of Scout Troop 42 and club volunteers we will plant about 55 of these shrubs plus numerous other plants that we are in the process of collecting into our fields. The remaining shrubs will be planted in other areas of the Mashpee Refuge. Read more…
What a beautiful way to spend Earth Day! AmeriCorps Cape Cod generously provided a Service Day to sprucing up the pollinator gardens established by the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge and the Town of Mashpee’s Conservation Department. Members of the Friends were also present to assist in the fun. Read more…
The Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge were among 8 volunteers on October 6, 2021, who planted and watered shrubs, trees and flowering plants in the Falmouth Rod & Gun Club’s fields adjacent to the Childs River Restoration project. Planting these fields was part of the Monarch Restoration Project that started in 2016 and continues into our 6th year! Read more…
Spring is eternal, and so are perennials! With relaxed pandemic restrictions and some cooperation from the weather, the Friends of MNWR (FMNWR) have been busy tending our Pollinator Gardens. A new site was created on Red Brook Road connecting to the Jehu Pond Conservation Area. Initial work was led by Tom Eagle and a team from US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Mashpee Conservation Department and Department of Public Works, and FMNWR volunteers. Read more…
Continuing the work at the FR&GC Pollinator Fields under the most trying of moments in our lives! This picture IS worth at least a thousand words and certainly demonstrates the current situation we are all facing! A great expression of dedication, coupled with the real need to get outside to enjoy the spring weather and share some companionship, despite keeping social distancing, gloves and wearing face masks, was a success on Friday, May 22,2020 shared by the Falmouth Rod and Gun Club Pollinator Committee! Read more…
Three Friends board members, Katelyn Cadoret, Glenn Davis, and MaryKay Fox, worked together following CDC’s social distancing and utilizing facemasks to spruce up the pollinator gardens at Jehu Pond and Pickerel Cove. New plants were purchased from Cape Cod Extension Service spring plant sale and shrubs from Cold Stream Farms as bare root stock. These plants will provide additional early to late flowerings options for our native pollinators and the flowering bushes will produce fall fruit for migrating wildlife species. Something for everyone! Read more…
On May 20-24, 2013, Friends of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge partnered with several groups, the AmeriCorps Cape Cod, Mashpee Conservation Commission, Wildlife Refuge Partners, and community volunteers to install five native pollinator gardens and informational kiosks at five different entrances to the Refuge and Mashpee conservation lands, through a week of community service. To celebrate all our contributions after the long week, a delicious BBQ helped complete the adventure. Read more…
Here’s some helpful information about the use of RoundUp and non-chemical alternatives to herbicides and pesticides from consumer advocacy organization Consumer Notice.
Also, this information may be of interest about the use of neonicotinoids from the Xerces Society.
Thank you to our supporting vendors, providing us with native and pollinator-friendly plants.
