This Fall, Let’s Feed The Pollinators That Feed Us

By Mayor James W. SweeneyA Simple Lesson with Big ImpactEvery so often, I attend a workshop that changes how I look at our daily surroundings here in Cambridge. The recent NYCOM webinar on Native Plants and Pollinators was one of those moments. It reminded me that the way we plant and maintain our yards, gardens, and public spaces connects directly to the health of our environment, our birds, and even our food supply. The lesson was simple but powerful: Every living thing starts somewhere, and most of it starts with native plants.The “Baby Food” ConnectionDuring the webinar, one image stuck with me. Jennifer Michelle, MPH, Sustainable Health Strategist, explained that birds, especially when raising their young, depend almost entirely on caterpillars to feed their chicks. But caterpillars can only survive on the native plants they evolved with.When we replace those native plants with imported ornamentals or endless grass lawns, we remove the “baby food” for our insects. No insects means no caterpillars. No caterpillars means fewer birds. And fewer birds means an ecosystem that starts to unravel right in our backyards.The good news is that this is one of the few environmental problems we can all help solve literally from the ground up. Every patch of native planting helps. Native Beauty, Local CharacterHere in Cambridge, we take pride in our historic character and our natural beauty. Our Zoning Law and Design Guidelines talk about maintaining that character through thoughtful design and landscaping. Adding native plants to our home gardens fits right into that vision.Native plants look natural here because they belong here. And also because they support the pollinators that sustain our crops, our trees, and our own quality of life.Why Fall MattersFall, as it turns out, is nature’s time to plant. Many native seeds such as milkweed, coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and others need to rest under the winter frost before they’ll germinate in spring. This natural cycle, called cold stratification, is how meadows renew themselves year after year. So for residents thinking about trying native plantings, autumn is a great time to prepare a patch, scatter a few seeds, or simply start learning about what will thrive in your yard next year.Four Easy Ways to StartShrink the lawn, just a little. Even converting a 3x3-foot corner to native flowers makes a difference.Leave the leaves. A thin layer of leaf litter helps overwintering insects survive and enriches the soil.Choose plants that feed pollinators. Look for milkweed, bee balm, asters, goldenrod, and native grasses. These plants are the “bread and butter” for native bees and butterflies.Plant what belongs here. Avoid cultivars bred only for showy flowers; they often lack the nectar or pollen pollinators need.This isn’t about turning every lawn into a wild meadow overnight. It’s about small, steady steps toward healthier habitats. Every garden, every verge, every front yard can play a role. Native plant gardens, when well-maintained and thoughtfully designed, are consistent with the Village of Cambridge Design Guidelines (2005, §2: Site Design) and the Zoning Law (Local Law No. 2 of 2015).Looking AheadAs a Village, we can also think ahead. Over time, we might identify a few public spots that could serve as demonstration gardens or “pollinator pockets”, visible examples of what native planting can look like. That will take planning and partnership, but it starts with awareness.So this fall, I invite you to look at your yard or garden with new eyes. Ask yourself what belongs here, what feeds life here, and what we can leave for the creatures that share this place with us.Cambridge has always been a community that values its sense of place. Caring for our native plants, and the pollinators that depend on them, is one way we honor that tradition.Let’s keep Cambridge beautiful, healthy, and buzzing with life.