Welcome
The gardens installed this Spring of 2010 at the North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery are designed to showcase native plants and encourage visitors to plant more of them in their yards. Using naturescaping principles, these gardens will contain a variety of native plants, including some that you might find on the nature trail at the hatchery -- all of which you can use in your own gardens at home. The purpose of these gardens is to introduce visitors to native plants and their beauty as well as their value to pollinators and other wildlife. Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, carry pollen from one plant to another so that plants produce the seeds and fruits that people and wildlife depend on for food (http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/). By using native plants gardeners can avoid using pesticides, which harm pollinators, pollute our lakes and ponds, damage our water supply and diminish the health of our fish populations. A key feature is the rain garden that was installed to reduce the stormwater runoff from the parking lot and road. Designed by landscape designer, Risa Edelstein, these gardens are meant to be four-season and have interest all year. Most of the plants in this garden were supplied by American Beauties Native Plants (their website, www.abnativeplants.com, includes planting designs). Native plants can be purchased at local nurseries. These gardens are maintained with the help of volunteers. If you’d like to help, send an email to redelstein@comcast.net and let us know. Information about this project can be found at Friends of U.S. Fish & Wildlife North Attleboro Hatchery. |
