Patchogue area residents are invited to help bees and other pollinators buzz back from a toxic setback by joining in Pollinator Garden Planting Days on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30.
This is one of three native plant gardens made possible with a $200,000 grant from the New York State Attorney General’s Office, said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), the Farmingdale group spearheading this project.
In a victory for bees and the planet, the AG “sued Monsanto over toxic pesticides called neonicotinoids and those are the pesticides that have been killing the colonies around the globe,” she explained. A settlement with Monsanto in 2023 provided almost $7 million, which included grants to stakeholders like CCE to create pollinator gardens.
“The pollinator garden will be specifically designed to attract bees and butterflies and other pollinators by using native plantings with beautiful flowers,” Esposito said. “Bees are considered the most important species on the planet. 50 percent of our fruits and vegetables happen because we have pollinators.”
Volunteers should come with gloves, shovels and a “wonderful, happy face”, she said, and be prepared to spread native plants throughout a 7,000-square-foot tract chosen by the village. She described the location as highly visible and north of Main Street near a paved walking trail that starts at Montauk Highway and extends up Waverly Avenue. “We’ll have educational signage as well,” she added.
Those interested should call Christina at 516-390-7150 or email farmingdale@citizenscampaign.org. Planting will take place 3-7 p.m. on May 29 and 10 to 3 p.m. on May 30.
“We’re thrilled to be able to create this garden, and we hope that the public enjoys it as well,” Esposito said.
The 40-year-plus statewide organization is also planning pollinator gardens in Port Jefferson and Bayport and previously created both rain and pollinator gardens on the North Shore.
For details visit the website.