Editor’s note: Sue Gray is a member of Bee Friendly Carbondale.
The bees are busy in the new 1,600-square-feet demonstration pollinator garden at the Thompson House Museum History Park in Carbondale. Along with a plethora of honeybees, several species of wild bees, wasps, moths, beetles, butterflies and hummingbirds are visiting their favorite pollen-producing plants, which were installed by an all-volunteer team of local native-habitat advocates.
Bee Friendly Carbondale started as an offshoot of the Carbondale Environmental Board, spearheaded by then-Board Chair Hannah-Hunt Wander in the fall of 2022. Soon, a small group of citizens gathered around the idea of replacing grass turf in Town parks and rights-of-way with elements of native habitats. The goal was to create “pollinator corridors” throughout town — pathways of nutrient- and habitat-dense areas for beneficial insects and birds. And because native habitat is drought resistant, the Town would be able to reduce its water usage.
Grass lawns are great for sports and social events, but some turf is solely ornamental and non-essential. A typical Kentucky Bluegrass lawn uses 12-times more water than landscaping with native plants, which feed and house pollinator species, require no chemical additives and thrive in our arid environment.
Garden takes shape
Because of my association with the Heritage Garden at the Thompson House Museum, I was approached by Bee Friendly Carbondale in early 2023 about making the Thompson House Park the location of the first demonstration pollinator garden. I quickly lent my support to the project and joined the group, which now included my neighbors, Jane Hendricks and Dina Bowers, as well as Wander’s neighbor, Jillene Rector.
Bowers created a “matrix” design plan using native and regionally-adaptive plants, as outlined in the book “Prairie Up” by Benjamin Vogt. Native plants are those that grow naturally in this area. Adaptive plants are from areas with a similar climate, such as parts of Asia and South Africa.
With approval from the Parks and Rec Department and funding from the Environmental Board, we ordered 800 seedlings from the wholesale Bluebird Nursery in Clarkson, Nebraska to be delivered the following spring.
In early 2024, the turf was scraped from the southwest perimeter of the park. Soon after, nearly a dozen volunteers helped install a portion of the small plant plugs. No soil amendments were added, as these native plant varieties have evolved to grow in these sandy alkaline soil conditions. A three-inch-thick layer of mineral mulch (pea gravel) was added, creating ideal conditions for the heat and drought-loving native plants to thrive, while also discouraging weeds.
A second planting was completed in the spring of 2025, filling in the matrix with 700 plant plugs from online-distributor High Country Gardens and High Plains Environmental Nursery in Loveland — purchased with a grant through Aspen Skiing Company’s Environment Foundation.
More Bee Friendly gardens
Starting in 2024, Bee Friendly worked with the Town of Carbondale to encourage residents to replace turf in their own yards with drought resistant gardens by applying for the “Turf Replacement Program.” Using funds from the statewide program, sponsored by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, qualifying residents received $2 per square foot of irrigated turf removed and replaced with waterwise landscaping.
To see how native landscapes can beautify residential neighborhoods and public spaces, look for the Bee Friendly Garden signs in front yards around town, in Sopris Park and coming soon to the Carbondale Library.
By next spring, the plants in the Thompson House Park demonstration garden will be well established, and Parks and Rec will be able to reduce the irrigation amount in that area. The long-term benefit for the Town is less water usage and turf maintenance. But the benefit for Bee Friendly Carbondale and all who pass by, is the joy of seeing the beautiful garden in full bloom, humming with insect life.
For more information about Bee Friendly Carbondale, visit our booth at Potato Day, find us on Facebook or go to our website: www.beefriendlycarbondale.com
