Fall rains bring new life
In partnership with Offshoots Productive Landscapes, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the City of Somerville, MyRWA is transforming what was previously a lawn into a native pollinator meadow over the next two years. Located at the corner of Shore Drive and Temple Road, this is the first-of-its-kind native meadow on the Mystic Reservation. Read on for an update on the project and a preview for what’s coming next:
Environmental Benefits
This native meadow will not only increase the biodiversity in this area, but also has benefits for stormwater management and water quality.
“The creation of these meadows at the Blessing of the Bay park will improve the environmental performance, wildlife benefit, pollinator habitat and plant biodiversity for the greater Mystic River watershed, said Kate Kennen, Offshoots. “The project will also improve stormwater infiltration in the park by de-compacting some existing lawn areas while also reducing the need for grass mowing. The reduced grass mowing will decrease the amount of grass cuttings (that inevitably leach nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients into the river) and reduce the carbon output and noise generated by the mowers.”
Current Progress
After prepping the site during the spring, Offshoots seeded the meadow area in June 2022. After an extremely dry summer, an influx of fall rains brought the first wave of germination. If you look at the meadow right now, you’ll see young milkweed plants and a lush blanket of grass and flowering plant sprouts.
A milkweed sprout. “Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) like the one popping up here are a crucial food source for Monarch Butterfly larvae — and they are a source of nectar for a host of native pollinators.” Credit: Offshoots Inc.
A photo of the meadow taken on Oct 21, 2022. The short green growth is a mix of grass and forb species that were seeded in the spring. Credit: David Mussina
You also see 32 colorful firefly sculptures! This firefly installation is a collaboration between MyRWA, local artist Carolyn Lewenberg, Offshoots, and students from the nearby Healey school. They were added to the meadow also in June 2022 to celebrate our mission to restore natural habitats throughout the watershed. Stop by the meadow at night to see the solar powered sculptures glow!
The firefly sculptures light up at night. Credit: David Mussina
What’s Next for the Meadow?
Next year, the meadow will continue to grow, with regular mowing by Offshoots to eliminate annual weed seed growth. Towards fall 2023, Offshoots will begin the next phase of meadow establishment which will be the installation of small landscape plugs of native species around the edges. Follow @blessing_meadows on Instagram for updates on meadow progress!
This project was funded with a grant from the Somerville Community Preservation Act.
