New Pollinator Haven Takes Root in Fitler Square
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New Pollinator Haven Takes Root in Fitler Square
By James Young
What started as a large patch of brown dirt in Schuylkill River Park is now beginning to bloom into a colorful pollinator habitat.
Volunteers seeded the brand-new garden on June 1st, creating the third stop on Center City's growing "Pollinator Pathway" just steps from the neighborhood's beloved community garden.
Over the next several months, the native plants will attract bees, butterflies, and other crucial species to the scenic waterfront.
From Dirt Patch to Butterfly Magnet
Friends of Schuylkill River Park (FSRP) built the habitat using a coveted kit from the Xerces Society—one of only a handful awarded nationwide this year. Susan Kahn, FSRP board member and chair of the Center City Residents' Association (CCRA) Green Committee, calls the Xerces program "very competitive," noting that the organization has "been trying to emphasize gardens in urban areas… but it still wasn't a given that we would receive a kit."
FSRP's proximity to the community garden proved crucial in securing the award. "They wanted to know about herbicide history, pesticide use, weed density, water access, and more," Kahn explains. "It helped that we were planting right by the community garden, so we had easy access to water."
The habitat will host native species including Swamp Milkweed—critical for the vulnerable Monarch butterfly's life cycle. "Monarch butterflies can't complete their life cycle without a certain plant: Milkweed," Kahn emphasizes.
Each year, Monarchs migrate from the northeastern United States to Florida and Mexico, a journey impossible without plentiful Milkweeds. Other plantings include Hairy Beardtongue for hummingbirds, Coreopsis for butterflies, and Purple Coneflower, which feeds finches and other birds.
Volunteers built the habitat's base during Love Your Park Week in May, with community members looking on to learn about the importance of pollinators.
Spreading Seeds Beyond the Park
Now FSRP and the CCRA Green Committee want to expand beyond parks into residential spaces. "We're looking for more neighbors to fill in the gaps," Kahn says.
The Green Committee launched a new initiative providing free native plant seeds through local businesses like coffee shops and hair salons—inspired by Fishtown's Sarah McAnulty, a squid biologist who runs a similar program.
Volunteers can help maintain the habitat by contacting Cerie Goldenberg at cerie@srpcg.org. Those interested in Green Committee opportunities can reach Susan Kahn at susan.v.kahn@gmail.com. Residents can also start their own pollinator habitats with simple window or sidewalk planters—all you need are seeds, soil, and passion for local pollinators.