top of page

Pollinators

harriett powell crop.jpg
Harriet Powell, Champion of Pollinators
Pollinator Habitat at Casey Farm
polinator 2 copy.JPG

     The Plum Beach Garden Club is pleased to present an Award of Excellence to Harriet Powell for her dedication, leadership and activism in educating people about the plight of the pollinators and what each of us can do to restore their numbers. 

     Harriet began her interest in the pollinators during her tenure on the North Kingstown Ground Water Committee when she realized that improving the fate of pollinators, along with other wildlife, coincided with a number of goals to protect our water quality and quantity. As Chair of the Ground Water Committee, she encouraged the committee to discuss and publicize ways to help pollinators while protecting our water supply. 

      Specifically, lawns of turf grass need a great deal of water and provide zero food for pollinators. Adding shrubs, flowers and other plantings, hopefully native, could raise the amount of pollinator food to a level above zero and help pollinators survive. Other helpful strategies to conserve water and support pollinators include letting the lawn grow to at least 3 inches before mowing, over seeding with clover and allowing an occasional dandelion.

            Harriet was also active in the passing of two pollinator-friendly proclamations by the North Kingstown Town Council. And she initiated talks with the Plum Beach Garden Club which led to the forming of a group called the Pollinator Rescue Project which joined together the PBGC, the Ground Water Committee, Casey Farm and other groups, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, and individuals to establish and maintain a pollinator friendly garden at Casey Farm, aided by a grant from Feed a Bee. 

            Harriet Powell has been a leader in the North Kingstown fight to educate our community about the plight of pollinators and to actively take steps to increase pollinator access to pollinator friendly plants.

October 2020

In 2016, Plum Beach Garden Club, in partnership with Pollinator Rescue Project RI, began the creation of a pollinator friendly garden at Casey Farm.  PBGC member Carol Gjelsvik, pictured above center, gathered a team to prepare the site and begin the planting.

As evidenced by the slideshow below, the garden has evolved over the years and is an fine example of how a pollinator garden can be beautiful and also serve great environmental purpose. All are invited to visit.  

bee clover sm.jpg

The link above will take you to a website with extensive information for all levels of interest in the topic of pollinators ... including classroom educational materials, posters, pamphlets, and more.  

casey 3.JPG
casey best copy.jpg
RIFGC Youth Award 2020.png
June 2020 ...
pollin poster setting 1 fix.jpg

Click image to enlarge

Educational Poster

Our 48"x30" poster is sometimes available for appropriate events. Please request by email:

info@plumbeachgardenclub.org

bee full of pollen.png

Bees are very effective pollinators -- hairs all over their body attract pollen through electrostatic forces. 

long thin ps.jpg
bottom of page