By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The Ocean Pines Association continues to prioritize its environmental impact and beautification efforts by installing pollinator garden beds on Ocean Parkway medians.

Pollinator gardens are essential to the health of the ecosystem. They aid the survival of pollinating insects, like bees, through attraction by planting flora that produces pollen and nectar.

“Of the 1,400 crop plants grown around the world, i.e., those that produce all of our food and plant-based industrial products, almost 80% require pollination by animals,” the United States Forest Service says.

OPA is collaborating with the Ocean Pines Garden Club on the initiative. According to a press release issued by Josh Davis, the community’s director of public relations and marketing, the project took shape in the summer of 2024 with partnerships between the Ocean Pines Public Works Department, University of Maryland Extension, Assateague Coastal Bays, Lower Shore Land Trust, and Bluebird Farms.

University of Maryland Extension Agent Ginny Rosencranz recommended planting “plugs,” or young plants, this fall for “better establishment and growth,” the press release reads. The garden sites, which include inside the North Gate entrance, in front of the Pintail Park parking lot, and inside the South Gate entrance, were cleared and prepared by the OPA Public Works team, and planting plans were developed by gardener Sandy Gaffigan and Nancie Corbett of Bluebird Farms.

The pollinator gardens will include an “edging of grape hyacinths for a striking spring border, surrounded by groupings of switchgrass and little bluestem grass at the center,” the release said. In addition, native perennials like beardtongue, blue false indigo, and Bradbury Bee Balm will be featured in the spring, butterfly weed, black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, and threadleaf coreopsis in the summer, and smooth after, sweet goldenrod, and blue mistflower in the fall.

“Only native plants were chosen because they can endure and thrive during our hot summers, frequent humidity, and periodic droughts,” OPGC Vice President Barbara Miller said. “Within that category, we chose pollinators with different bloom times to benefit the eyes and the wildlife for at least three seasons.”

The OPGC is expected to begin planting the hyacinths and grasses this fall. The plug installations are scheduled for March. While some spring bulbs have already been planted, Miller said that “the bulk of the work will be finished upon the April planting.”

“Since this is the first year, we will observe and correct as necessary throughout the year,” she added.

Miller noted that the gardens will not need to be watered. Maintenance will consist of periodic weeding and trimming, which will be completed by OPGC volunteers, and tiling and mulching with the assistance of OPA Public Works.

This is the first stage of what the OPGC hopes will be an “expanding project.”

“As we learn and succeed, OPA is open to installing more beds in future years,” Miller said. “We hope to add natural beauty to the journey on the Parkway. Environmentally, it will provide nourishment for birds and beneficial bugs. Practically, it saves mowing energy and expense.”