Fostering Biodiversity in the Meadow with Pocket Gardens

If you’ve passed through the meadow over the past few years, you may have noticed that there are several spots that stand out from the surrounding vegetation. These are “pocket gardens” where we’ve planted a variety of native plants that thrive in a meadow ecosystem. These plantings are one of the methods we are using to foster more biodiversity in the meadow, gradually reclaiming space from the dense patches of invasive species such as mugwort and ragweed.

If you look closely, you’ll notice that these areas are buzzing with activity, as many of the plants chosen for these gardens attract a wide array of insects and birds. Some of the more prominent species in these plots are Rudbeckia maxima, or Giant coneflower, which tower over the meadow at heights of up to 8 feet tall. After its yellow and black flowers finish blooming in midsummer, it produces seeds that are loved by many small birds, like goldfinches. Another plant that has been thriving in these gardens is mountain mint. While its clusters of pale green flowers aren’t quite as showy, they are very popular with many varieties of native bees.

As the plants in these gardens grow to maturity, we mow buffer zones around the edges of the plots to give the plants an opportunity to spread their seeds and gradually establish themselves beyond the planting areas. This method was suggested by the influential landscape designer Larry Weaner, whose book Garden Revolution has been an indispensable resource in developing strategies for restoring our natural landscapes, like the meadow. We also periodically expand the gardens, increasing their area and adding dozens of new plants every few years. The initial installation of these plantings and regular weeding that helps them thrive has been made possible through the help of volunteers, so if you’ve ever attended one of our horticulture volunteer days, you’ve probably spent some time in these gardens planting perennials and pulling weeds!