Pollinator garden at King and John flourishing

Plants such as swamp milkweed attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

The pollinator garden at the corner of John and King streets initiated by Friends of One Mile Creek (FOMC) in 2016 is flourishing after five years. The garden was planted in one day in September 2016 in the Town park with plants provided by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) and help from NPCA staff, FOMC volunteers, Town staff and a few committee members of Communities in Bloom.

More native flowers provided by NPCA were added to the garden in 2017 and 2018. FOMC volunteers organized by Klara Young-Chin regularly weed and mulch the garden.

Klara Young-Chin in pollinator garden July 2021 — Klara Young-Chin in pollinator garden next to Dense Blazing Star in July 2021.

In fall 2018 the Niagara Restoration Council paid for a beautiful interpretive sign that showcases photos of some of the native flowers with explanation of their benefits. The sign is easily viewed by people who use the busy walk/bike path along King Street that passes directly beside the pollinator garden.

This garden is another example of a naturalization project that encourages community members to add pollinator friendly plants to their yards. Each patch of native flowers, however small, adds to the network of food and rest stops for bees, butterflies, birds and other beneficial pollinators.

NOTL is proud of the recognition it has received in national and international judging. One of the many requirements for Communities in Bloom is the environmental stewardship contribution in the community, and this garden is one of the community projects that have been noted.

This garden followed the 2012 FOMC project organized by Gerry Beneteau that created the large naturalized buffer and pollinator garden in the William Street Park at the top of the hill abutting One Mile Creek.