A brand-new pollinator habitat designed to attract bees, butterflies, and other important species is the latest addition to Schuylkill River Park, bringing a splash of color to the scenic waterfront. The garden, which is the newest stop on Center City’s “Pollinator Pathway,” was seeded on June 1^st and will bloom over the next several months. We spoke with Susan Kahn, a board member of Friends of Schuylkill River Park (FSRP) and chair of the Center City Residents’ Association (CCRA) Green Committee, to find out more about the habitat.

Susan has been prioritizing “urban habitat and sustainability practices” in Center City, beginning the Pollinator Pathway initiative this year after being inspired by a similar program in Southwest Center City. So far, the program has constructed native plant gardens in Rittenhouse Square and Schuylkill River Park, with the new SRP garden being the third formal addition. The habitat was built using a kit provided by the Xerces Society, which supplies native plant seeds to organizations in several regions of the country.

According to Susan, the Xerces Habitat Kit is a “very competitive program”; although Xerces has “been trying to emphasize gardens in urban areas… it still wasn’t a given that [FSRP] would be granted a kit.” Susan initially applied for a kit in February and learned in March that Xerces had awarded FSRP one of the few available kits. “They wanted to know about the area we’ll be planting: history of herbicides, pesticides, density of weeds, access to water, and more… it helped that we were planting right by the community garden, so we had easy access to water.”

The base for the habitat was built by volunteers during Love Your Park Week in May, a yearly collaboration between the Parks & Recreation department, Fairmount Park Conservancy, and Park Friends network. Seeding was also done by volunteers, and park visitors were welcomed to come watch and learn about the importance of pollinators.

The plot will host a variety of native plants, including Hairy Beardtongue, which supports hummingbirds, Coreopsis, which supports butterflies, Purple Coneflower, an important food for finches and other birds, and several other plant species. Perhaps the most vital is the Swamp Milkweed, which is a crucial food source for the vulnerable Monarch butterfly. As Susan put it, “Monarch butterflies can’t go through their life cycle without a certain plant- Milkweed.” Each year, Monarchs migrate from the northeastern United States to Florida and Mexico, a journey that would not be possible without plentiful Milkweeds.

Now that the initial work on the habitat has been completed, FSRP and the CCRA Green Committee are prioritizing native gardens in residential spaces: “we’re looking for more neighbors to fill in the gaps,” as Susan put it. The Green Committee has started a new initiative to provide free native plant seeds via local businesses, such as coffee shops, hair salons, etc., inspired by Sarah McAnulty, a squid biologist who provides a similar service in Fishtown. McAnulty is also the brains behind the viral “SquidFacts” hotline, which provides free squid-related trivia (text “Squid” to 1-833-SCI-TEXT to learn more!).

Although the planting is finished, volunteers are still needed to assist with watering and other upkeep. Anybody interested in helping to maintain the SRP pollinator habitat is encouraged to contact Cerie Goldenberg ([email protected]); those interested in general opportunities with the Green Committee can reach out to Susan Kahn ([email protected]). Additionally, anybody can start their own pollinator habitat with a window or sidewalk planter- all you need are seeds, soil, and a passion for local pollinators!