Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions

The Jericho Conservation Commission is always looking for ways to expand our existing public Pollinator Gardens. The first component of our AVCC Tiny-grant project is a new garden located near the sidewalk in front of our Town Hall. During Phase 1 (2022) after several diseased Red Maples were removed by the Town we replaced them with four new Serviceberry Trees purchased from the Native Plant Trust. During Phase 2 (funded by the AVCC grant) we added a section of pollinator plants to the beds surrounding the trees. This garden serves as an example of best practices for using pollinator plants in landscaping and we hope to add signage in 2024 so visitors to Town Hall can educate themselves the importance of adding pollinator habitat to our homes, businesses and parks. The second component of our project was an education campaign to protect the trees on our Town Green from further damage from heavy foot traffic, soil compaction, and lawn equipment. We identified 3 Sugar Maples to use as examples. Using Heather Holms' "soft landings" model of habitat creation for lepidopterans and other insects and animals we used shade-tolerant native plants to create an understory within the drip line of each tree. We used decorative fencing to cordon off the area and allowed leaves to collect within the planted areas as additional material for overwintering insects and soil-building. These project areas help Jericho's Conservation Commission meet a broader goal of public education to highlight the importance of wildlife habitat in our communities.