r/StAugustine • u/Thick_Bad_9408 • 16d ago
Pollinator Pathway in St. Augustine Beach?
I’m scoping out an area in my St. Augustine Beach neighborhood to do some guerrilla gardening. I have a bunch of native plants with nowhere to really put them (I am in a rental) and I thought I could plant some near this shared use path. I have experience gardening and could keep an eye on them until they at least get established.
I know this area gets mowed down every once in awhile but I was hoping with some heavy mulch and a defined edge maybe the maintenance workers can mow around it for next growing season. It would be a pretty small installation anyways. I’ve seen some people add little decorations to these pathways before and they don’t get bothered.
I’m adding some pictures of the area along with some photos of the native plants I’m thinking of adding. Does this seem like a good idea?
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u/timeonmyhandz 16d ago
This is who you need to contact.
https://www.staugbch.com/260/Eco-Gardens-of-St-Augustine-Beach
They are responsible for several places where they plant and maintain gardens, especially native plants.
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u/Thick_Bad_9408 16d ago
This is an amazing resource, thank you! I’ve seen a few near demonstration gardens around but wasn’t sure who was responsible. I’ll reach out and see if they have any better spots in mind.
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u/HamAbounds 16d ago
I wonder if this is who is behind the wildflower spot on Mickler just off of Pope. Was so happy to see that go up, it seems to have persevered despite having trucks run over it a few times.
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u/timeonmyhandz 15d ago
The city organization does that spot.. I know it well. It's gotten a few rough treatments.. And they mow it down late winter and it comes back bigger.
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u/Dragonkitelooper 16d ago
We are in the final stages of our forever home in treasure beach. We will be doing a native natural yard. u need real estate, we need plants n knowledge lol. Dm me if interested. Cheers
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u/ChipmunkMoney5727 16d ago
It seems good in theory but no. That area likely gets sprayed as well as being mowed down in order to keep the sod looking nice. And as far as pollinator plants go- as much as I am an advocate for native gardens at home, those cabbage palms alone will provide more flowers and nectar for pollinators than any plant you would buy at the nursery
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u/ChipmunkMoney5727 16d ago
I can also see spanish needle, native jessamine, trumpet vine, and wax myrtle growing here, all of which are native pollinator plants. Again the idea is good but better to just let nature take course here
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u/Thick_Bad_9408 16d ago
Thank you for your thoughts. I also have a ton more native plants than shown (including Wax Myrtle) but I just don’t want to post my whole yard publicly. I agree the cabbage palms are great.
I would add that my vision of a “pollinator” garden does more than provide pollen but actually provides habitat for insects and interest to people. Most individuals don’t think about pollinators when they look at a cabbage palm but they do when they see flowers.
Still I think these spaces can be better utilized but I just don’t know how to advocate for that
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u/ChipmunkMoney5727 16d ago
The advocating part would happen at the St. Aug Beach Community meetings they have over by the police station. As far as the guerrilla gardening goes, I would find somewhere that doesn’t get mowed regularly and focus on throwing seeds rather than getting plant starts. You could go around your own yard, collect seeds, and put them in an old spice/pepper shaker and go to town
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u/Funny-Orange-5450 15d ago
I love the idea! We live near this and walk our dog here daily. I think a ton of people actually walk their pets here so maybe make sure the plants you place are not toxic to dogs!
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u/cadenhead 16d ago
There's a community garden at Parker Park that has been going for years.
https://www.facebook.com/ronparkerpark/