Meadows

Arlington has worked to restore meadows in several parks and along powerlines over the last two decades. These plant communities are less common locally than forests and woods, and supply habitat for many plants and animals, especially our pollinators.

In Barcroft Park an old practice field was planted with native warm season grasses and sun loving wildflowers. A few years later, meadow wildlife began returning on their own.  A formerly lost butterfly species, the Little Wood Satyr, was rediscovered there. Currently we are planting once extirpated species such as Sugarcane Plume-Grass and Poke Milkweed there.

Meadows require management to prevent being shaded in by trees or taken over by invasive plants. Annual mowings simulate historically occurring disturbances, like fire and grazing, and keep areas open and sunny.  It is best to mow in early spring, letting dead stalks and stems provide overwintering habitat for native bees and caterpillars, but before ground nesting birds have arrived.

Native Plant of the Month

Rosebay Rhododendron - Great Laurel

Rhododendron maximum

Rhododendron maximum goes by a variety of names: Rosebay, White Rosebay, Rosebay Rhododendron, Great Rhododendron, Great Laurel, and Mountain Laurel (though this last name is more closely associated with another native shrub Kalmia latifolia) to name a few. It is an evergreen shrub with twisted trunks. The maximum part of its name can refer to the big 4-10 inch leaves, large white to light pink flowers, and/or may be due it being one of the largest of our native rhododendrons. Read more.