Ardsley Pollinator Pathway
Making significant change, one yard at a time.
November is Monarch Butterfly Month in Ardsley
A month dedicated to preventing the extinction of the beloved monarch butterfly
Out of the three main causes of monarch butterfly decline we have direct control over two of them: pesticide use and loss of habitat. For easy steps you can take to help monarch butterflies in your yard see the November Cross Pollination News - The Monarch Edition. The Monarch Butterfly’s survival depends upon us, and it is time for each of us to take action - in our yards.
Ardsley again achieves Leadership Circle Achievement from National Wildlife Federations (NWF) Mayors' Monarch Pledge
Ardsley is one of a few municipalities in North America in 2023 and 2022 that earned the Leadership Circle Achievement for the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors Monarch Pledge. Cities and municipalities in the program commit each year to support endangered monarch butterflies by creating habitat and educating residents on how to make a difference at home or in their community.
Ardsley is proud to support our beloved monarch butterflies and to have again earned the Leadership Circle honor. Ardsley is now part of an expanding North American network of cities working to create habitat in public parks, public landscaping, vacant lots, roadsides, medians, green roofs, backyard gardens and open spaces throughout the entire community.
Upcoming Events
Holly Days fund raising event, Garden Club of Irvington: Celebrating Pollinators, Pathways, Plants, and Gardens. Thursday, December 7, 10:30 - 3:00
Boutique, presentations, panel discussions, buffet lunch, raffles - all at the Ardsley Country Club.
The 2023 event will feature a celebration of Pollinators with the following:
Carol Sommerfield, Ardsley Pollinator Pathway, will present "The Passionate Why of Pollinator Gardens"
Hastings Pollinator Pathway Committee members, Margie Lavender and Melissa Reavis, will be speaking with Conservationist and Native Plant Educator, Cathy Ludden, on the HPP's achievements and the integration of these values into their collaborative work as architect and landscape architect.
Registration ends November 30. $100 per ticket. To purchase a ticket click here.
Invasive Vine Cutting at Macy Park, Saturday, December 9, 10 am - 12 pm
Full enrollment - registration is now closed. Thank you!
The Mighty Oak - kid's program, Thursday, December 28, 2 pm - 3:15 pm, Ardsley Public Library
Join the Ardsley Public Library and the Ardsley Pollinator Pathway for this hands-on kid's event. The oak is our mightiest tree, a symbol of strength across cultures and the most important plant for wildlife. In this hands-on activity kids will learn about the oak, ways to identify it, why it is so important, and how to grow it. Kids will plant their own acorn in a pot to sprout in spring and be planted in their yards this year or next. For kids 5 years and up, kids under 5 years must have an adult accompany them. Space is limited to 20 kids. All materials supplied. Register here.
Going Wild With Hedgerows, Meadows and Plants with Kathy Evers, Wednesday, January 17 at 7:30
Kathy Evers returns to inspire us through telling the story about the next steps she took in 2023 to rewild her suburban yard. In 2023 Kathy focused on creating a hedgerow and small meadow on her property as well as nurturing her gardens that were installed in 2022. She will share her lessons learned, favorite plants, tips and tricks to make native gardening easier, and the joy of rewilding her yard. Click here to register.
Easy Native Trees For Your Yard
Thursday, February 1 at 7:30, Zoom
and
Easy Native Shrubs For Your Yard
Thursday, February 8 at 7:30, Zoom
We are thrilled to have nationally renowned landscape designer and native plant expert Carolyn Summers present easy native trees and shrubs for your yard. There is a native tree and shrub for every situation, height requirement, and use. Fall in love with our gorgeous native trees and shrubs and help pollinators, birds, and wildlife by including natives on your property. These webinars will not be recorded.
Easy Native Trees For Your Yard: Click here to register.
Easy Native Shrubs For Your Yard. Click here to register.
News:
Pollinate Now! Bioregional Strategy for Habitat Restoration in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed with Evan Abramson, Principal of Landscape Interactions. The recording of the presentation can be accessed here. The audio of the presentation can be accessed here. Evan has kindly offered the online version of his book, Pollinate Now! on his website and it can be downloaded here.
Sustaining Wildlife in Fall and Winter with Deb Ellis. The video recording can be accessed here; The audio recording can be accessed here; The chat can be accessed here. Deb's slides can be accessed here, and her list of favorite fall plants can be found here..
Garden Visit: Kathy Ever's Rewilded Yard. Click here to see Kathy's diagrams and plant lists for her garden beds.
The recording for Mushrooms in Your Yard with Taro Ietaka can be accessed here.
This documentary is a feast for the eyes and soul. Check out A Ghost in the Making: Searching for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee. This award winning short documentary inspires us to protect and provide habitat for all creatures and to prevent the extinction of the most vulnerable. Plant away!! We make the difference.
Introducing Our New Mailbox Gardens How-To Guides
You asked for it and we created it - a step- by- step guide to create a pollinator garden. We give you the design, the materials and quantities you'll need, and the list of plants. Four different garden sizes in each guide. You buy the plants, dig them in, and watch them grow. Check them out - it's easy!
Full-Part Sun Pollinator Wildflower Mailbox Gardens
Full to Part Sun Pollinator Grass and Sedge Mailbox Gardens
Part Shade Pollinator Mailbox Gardens
Full to Part Sun Monarch Butterfly Mailbox Garden
Join Our Public Garden Maintenance Team!
Three wonderful native plant pollinator gardens were created in the spring of 2022. One at the Ardsley Public Library (April 23), one at AFV Park (May 14) and one at Hart's Brook Park and Preserve (May 21). These gardens are fueled by volunteers to create, install and maintain the gardens. They will not be maintained in any way by Greenburgh or Ardsley. So, we need YOU for the 2024 season! It is a fun team and many friendships were made 2022 - 2023.
Please click here to fill out the survey concerning your willingness and preferences. Thank you so much!
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Resources:
Previous Get Together Presentations and Reference materials available here.
View the new DEC documentary on invasive plants, Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species
Join the Ardsley Pollinator Pathway
We're making substantial change, one yard at a time. Join our distribution list.
Our Mission
The Ardsley Pollinator Pathway Project's mission is to raise awareness, educate, and encourage the participation of Ardsley’s residents, businesses, government, and other organizations in the creation and maintenance of healthy pollinator habitats in the Village of Ardsley.
The world’s community of pollinators is in crisis.
One in four native bee species are facing extinction.
There are significant declines in other pollinator populations as well, which include beetles, ants, birds, moths, butterflies, flies, gnats, and small mammals, such as bats.
Pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of 80-95% of plant species on earth.
There are numerous causes for this decline, with habitat loss and pesticide use at the top.
Conservation techniques work! When homeowners, governmental agencies and private businesses commit to expanding pollinator-friendly, pesticide-free habitats, we will change the future for pollinators and secure our own. We encourage your home to become a node on a path through Ardsley!
No effort is too small! We need your help. They need your help.
Ardsley Pollinator Pathway Map
View our growing pathway that will connect us with other communities. Add your own pollinator garden to the map. Click on the purple flower pins to learn more about each steppingstone in our pathway.
Visit the Ardsley CAN by 2030! website to learn more about how you can easily reduce your carbon footprint and make small changes to act sustainably.
