Pollinator Garden and Conclusion

Plotting pollen in the pollinator garden; photo by J. Wickersty

This tour of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge ends at the native pollinator garden, which was constructed in 2015 by visiting groups of students from nearby elementary schools. Working with park rangers, students collected seeds from plants at Gateway National Recreation Area, raised seedlings in their classrooms through the winter months, and planted them here in the spring. Throughout the summer, the garden hums with bumble bees while the iconic monarch butterfly flashes orange brilliance. The garden is an excellent reminder that while the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a man-made creation, it truly is a wild place in the heart of New York City.