Industrial Park Island Test Site
In the spring of 2021 East Lyme Public Works Department granted PPEL sole maintenance of the Industrial Park Road traffic island. When PPEL began the project, the native grasses and perennials growing in the island were being outcompeted by the invasive species Artemisia vulgaris – mugwort. PPEL removed the mugwort and replanted the island with plugs of perennial species that meet sightline restrictions. PPEL continues removing Mugwort while adding seeds and plugs of native plant species. In addition, our ongoing collaboration with UCONN’s Horticultural Department Professor Julia Kuzovkina and her graduate student, Laura Urban, has proven to be helpful with managing native plant competition and sustainability.
4 Church Lane Meadow
The roughly two-acre meadow on Church Lane is located on the back half of the 4-acre property belonging to the Flanders Baptist Church. The site was a former agricultural crop field which had not been farmed in several years. After harrowing and removing the dead vegetation to expose 50% of the soil, the meadow was seeded in December of 2020 upon frozen ground. In the spring and summer of 2022, the meadow was ablaze with Black-eyed Susan as well as summer and late blooming perennials. Due to the unevenness of the seeding, bare areas exist where there are few meadow flowers and invasive species appear. Invasive plants are removed, and seeds and plugs are added to diversify the planting. PPEL continues to manage the field to allow the growth and spread of native wildflowers.
Samuel Smith Farmstead Meadow
In early spring of 2021 a 1600 square foot area along the garden fence was cleared of existing vegetation and later seeded with a wildflower mix containing slow-to-germinate forbs and grasses. The staff at the farmstead wanted colorful flowers in bloom during their outdoor programs, so the area was reseeded with a mix of annual flower species and a fescue grass nurse crop. By the summer of 2022, biennial and perennial wildflowers began blooming. Weeds were cut to prevent them from setting seed. Currently, PPEL is paying careful attention to the growing and spreading cool season fescue which may become dominant and crowd out the wildflowers.
In 2022 a second area behind the Samuel Smith house was restored. The primary objective was to clear the area of invasive mugwort, Asiatic bittersweet, multiflora rose, and Japanese honeysuckle. The area was seeded in the fall of 2022 with a wildflower mix of slow-to-germinate native wildflower species. In addition, a mow-able, two-foot-wide border of eco-grass was planted for ease of town maintenance. In the spring of 2023, the area will be seeded with annual flowers for summer blooming during Samuel Smith’s summer programs.
Betty Murphy Memorial Garden
In the autumn of 2020, the East Lyme Police Department asked PPEL to design a native plant garden in the memory of Betty Murphy. A mature native dogwood tree at the front of the Public Safety Complex became the ideal setting for the naturalized woodland garden. A granite bench was donated by Betty Murphy’s family. Phase I of planting occurred in September 2022. Ilex glabra densa, Salix discolor, Ilex verticillata, Cornus racemosa, Hydrangea aborescens and Fothergilla along with native perennials and grasses were interspersed among the shrubs adding to the seasonal interest for native pollinators, wildlife and people. Fund raising will be helpful for further planting. Seed money for this project was obtained by PPEL’s Sustainable CT Patronicity Crowd Funding Grant.
Community Center Gardens
Located at the entrance of the community center building on Society Road, the gardens had been maintained by the East Lyme Garden Club. In 2021 PPEL inherited the maintenance of these gardens. Many of the original plantings were diseased or overgrown and needed to be removed. The ongoing renovations include sustainable native plantings.
Senior Center Garden
The Senior Center Garden is located behind the Community Center and bordering Brookside Farm. The challenge for this abandoned and overgrown site will be to remove invasive autumn olive, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, butterfly bush, Japanese honeysuckle, wineberry, and mugwort. Native trees, shrubs, and perennials will be planted in the garden.
York Correctional Meadow
It was a serendipitous chain of events that brought PPEL and the York prison together in the summer of 2022. A PPEL power point presentation, “The Importance of Pollinators” at the Black Point Women’s Garden Club started the link between Suzanne Smith, who attended that presentation, her husband Bryan Smith, Grounds Supervisor at York, and Warden Trina Sexton. Discussions began on installing a pollinator meadow on prison grounds with a focus on butterflies. In the autumn of 2022, Peter Picone, DEEP Wildlife Biologist, joined the team for site selection. A one and a half acre of flat field located next to the Warden’s meeting cottage and Bride Lake will be seeded in mid-June 2023 with 32 native wildflower seeds and 2 native grasses. This meadow will provide successional blooming, butterfly larval host plants and nectar for butterflies. Ecotypic grasses and wildflowers started from seed are being grown by YCI inmates and will be planted in the meadow. As the meadow grows and matures inmates will be trained to maintain the meadow. We were delighted that the Boston TV show, The Chronicle, interviewed us on this project.
East Lyme Public Works
Very few foundation plants adorn the front of the ELPW office building on Capitol Drive. Rather, a bed of river rocks graces the curves of the building’s walkways and front lawn. The building receives direct sun, making the site very hot and dry in summer. Justin Porter of East Lyme Public Works asked PPEL to design a low maintenance native planting. Some sun-loving, drought-tolerant native plants will be planted near the foundation to soften the building while featuring the attractive river rocks already in use. The design was completed in the spring of 2023.
Three Rivers Community College
In the spring of 2022, Diba Khan-Bureau, Professor and Program Coordinator of Environmental Engineering of Three Rivers Community College, contacted PPEL with the idea of establishing a partnership where we would mentor students interested in pollinator meadow installation. Educational outreach is an important mission of PPEL so we didn’t hesitate in saying yes. Class time and hands on instruction at PPEL’s Church Lane meadow has prepared the students to proceed with site preparation, which will be on campus grounds. Our mentorship will be on-going.
Pollinator Pathway East Lyme 