Naperville Park District working on pollinator garden

Naperville Park District is seeking volunteers to help plant trees, shrubs, perennials and seeds to complete the new pollinator gardens at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots at 811 S. West St.

The gardens are being partially funded by a 2018 Pollinator Habitat Conservation grant from Trees Forever, an environmental nonprofit organization based in Iowa and Illinois. Planting will take place beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the plots.

The $1,000 grant is helping the park district enhance the habitat for monarch butterflies, bees and other pollinators. The planting project will repurpose several vacant or unused plots, including adding pollinator-friendly trees, shrubs and perennials to an area bordering Sportsman's Park, converting unused garden plots to a garden of flowering perennials, and planting pollinator-friendly plants along the fence line garden.

In June, volunteers helped district staff members plant trees and shrubs in the area bordering Sportsman's Park. The remaining work to be done Sept. 29 includes planting five shrubs, five trees, 50 plugs and some broadcast seeding.

Volunteers interested in participating in the project may register at www.napervilleparks.org/volunteer or email Volunteer Manager Lynnette Hoole at lhoole@napervilleparks.org.