19 September, 2024
Town Manager Elaine Lazarus and The Town of Hopkinton’s Sustainable Green Committee are pleased to announce the celebration of the foundation of three pollinator gardens.
WHEN:
Sunday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m.
WHERE:
Hughes Farm, 192 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton, MA 01748
Parking is limited, so visitors are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool, get dropped off, or park nearby
WHAT:
In celebration and recognition of the hundreds of hours of volunteer work required to create and maintain the three new pollinator gardens in Hopkinton, the Town is hosting a gathering open to the public at Hughes Farm, where one of the gardens is located.
Shaurya Patni and his sister, Suhani Patni, Hopkinton high schoolers who led the community project, will be in attendance, along with special guest U.S. Congressman James McGovern, a strong advocate for protecting the environment.
"Pollinator gardens promote native diversity, create a beautiful space, increase natural defenses against pests and foster the growth of other plants and flowers," said Shaurya. "They’re true champions of sustainability and resilience, embodying the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature."
Shaurya has long been interested in spearheading efforts to spread nationwide awareness about the connection between the ecosystem and human health.
"When we eat local foods, it increases our natural immune defenses and leads to better health,” said Shaurya. "Similarly, native pollinator species rely on the plants they evolved to exist with. They need the proper environment to thrive."
Shaurya met with Wayne Mezitt and Trevor Smith at Weston Nurseries, a notable garden center in Massachusetts, and other figures in the field, including Dr. Robert Gegear of UMass Dartmouth, and decided pollinator gardens would be a good way to focus his efforts.
The first pollinator garden was installed in the spring of 2024 at the MetroWest YMCA facility, where thousands of program participants can enjoy and learn from it. Shaurya created the garden for his Eagle Scout project and benefited from the help of many scout families who volunteered for the planting.
Shaurya envisioned having additional gardens in public spaces and teamed up with the Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee to help identify locations, secure funding and manage the project. With help from the Open Space Preservation Commission and other trail and land organizations, they identified two suitable locations: Hughes Farm, and Pratt Farm on Fruit Street. Funding for the project was provided by the Town through its participatory budget program at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting.
"More than 100 volunteers, including many youth in town, signed on for planting and watering," said Linda Chuss of the Sustainable Green Committee. "All the volunteers are now more aware of the importance of native pollinator plants and have a sense of ownership of the gardens."
The Town's public library plans to add two gardens next year, one for pollinators and another with native plants that do not attract pollinators for people allergic to bees.
For more information, visit HopGreen.org.
