Thank you, Hastings!

A great big thank you to all who turned out Saturday at Exit 12 to plant the 200 more shrubs and trees brought to us by NYSDEC's Trees for Tribs program. Volunteers of all ages got all the plants in the ground, digging, planting, covering and tubing and had a great time. 

 

To date we've installed 900 seedlings at this location, some of which have already matured into sizable saplings. The site is now essentially fully planted, and the Conservation Commission looks forward to helping this micro ecosystem evolve.

 

Already there is an impressive amount of native wildflower grow-back, with special thanks to Matt Hobby for his work cutting back invasive weeds for the past two years. We witnessed scores of sleepy bumble bees resting on the undersides of goldenrod fronds, as it was too wet for them to fly; wild asters popping up all over; and noted that the cattail stand is expanding. The community of native replants all seem to be thrilled to be growing up with one another. You can feel it - or imagine it - as you walk through. Willows and sycamore trees are bounding up to the sky. 

 

Join us at our next event, date and time TBA. We'll be removing dried leaves from tree tubes and culling invasive vines. To be alerted to work session announcements, send an email conservationcommission@hastingsgov.org, or follow Protect Our Woods on Facebook, or Hastings Pollinator Pathway on Instagram. 

 

For more details on the project, see: https://www.hastingsgreen.org/protect-our-woods/restoration-hastings/boutilliers-brook