Pollinators Galore! The Native Plant Landscaped Area near the Inn

by Barbara Walvoord

First published in the Lathrop Lamp Post,  Aug. 18-24, 2018

On August 14, twenty residents attended Alice Richardson’s talk about the native plant landscaped area near the Inn, and the birds and pollinators it supports.  Installed last fall in an area with a large bare spot and several invasive shrubs, the garden has gone from puny plugs to glorious flower, abuzz with pollinators.  We asked designer Owen Wormser, of Abound Design, to stay between a very formal look (which native plants can do), and a meadow, so Owen placed shrubs for anchors, interspersed with wildflowers in drifts, taller in back and shorter in front, all bordered with native grasses and sedges. The garden was installed by residents with help from Jeff Allen, financial support from the Residents’ Association and the Land Conservation Committee, and help from Facilities.

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Roses Out, Roses In

By Barbara Walvoord

First published in the Lathrop Lamp Post for Sept. 16-22, 2017

In the past three years, we’ve removed literally thousands of invasive multiflora roses from our land–roses that crowd out native plants but fail to support wildlife as fully as our native plants do.

Join us October 21 at 1 p.m. in the Inn to celebrate the demise of these roses and other invasive plants on our “Free Fifty” acres of land, on both campuses.  The program is also open to the public.  Pre-registration is required  because space is limited.  Residents will receive invitations in their mailboxes soon.

We’re also adding roses–native ones in the native plant landscaping area near the Inn.  On Sept. 18, at 10:30, residents may gather there for a short celebration, including an explanation by our landscape