Late Season Color at Crofton High School’s Pollinator Garden
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The Crofton High School Pollinator Garden is showing its autumn beauty with goldenrod and aster in bloom, providing important late-season nourishment for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

The garden was created by the school’s Green Team with support from the Crofton Village Garden Club, which donated funds to help establish the project on school grounds. It has earned recognition as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Schoolyard Habitat, a distinction awarded to outdoor spaces that provide the essential elements of food, water, shelter, and places for wildlife to raise their young.

This special habitat gives students hands-on experience with native plants and fosters a deeper understanding of how pollinator gardens contribute to a healthy ecosystem—right in their own schoolyard.

Planting for Pollinators with Local Students

Members of the Crofton Village Garden Club recently met with Pollinator Pathway Project Chair Lauren Toomey at the BEE Lab in Laurel to pick up native plants that will support pollinators in our community. These plants are part of the RePollinate Anne Arundel program, an initiative that helps restore native habitats and increase food sources for pollinators across Maryland.

This fall, the plants will be used in two school garden projects. Member Littany Hollerbach will be working alongside the ECO Club at Crofton Woods Elementary School to plant and care for a pollinator-friendly garden on campus. At Crofton High School, member Laura Austin will partner with the Green Team to engage students in hands-on planting and stewardship.

​By introducing native plants, students will learn about the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem while taking an active role in supporting biodiversity right in their own community. Whether enhancing an established pollinator garden or helping one take root, the RePollinate Anne Arundel program provides an excellent opportunity for youth to see how even small plantings can make a big difference for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

At our recent meeting, Horticulture Chair Nancy Percivall shared exciting news about our new project, creating a Bluebird Trail at the Crofton Community Library. One active nesting box is already in place in the Native Garden, and the trail will expand from there with additional boxes to give these beautiful native songbirds safe places to raise their young. Club members will help care for the boxes, watch for nesting activity, and keep track of the bluebirds’ progress throughout the season. Beyond providing homes for the birds, the project will also give the community a chance to enjoy and learn about bluebirds up close. Visitors to the library will be able to follow along with the trail, making it not only a gift to nature but also a special way to connect people with the wonder of wildlife right here in Crofton — a perfect reflection of our club’s mission of conservation, education, and community service.

In 2021, Crofton Village Garden Club supported the Crofton High School Green Team with funding to help establish a pollinator garden on the school grounds. 

Planted with native flowers and grasses, the garden attracts bees, butterflies, and other local pollinators while giving students hands-on experience in caring for the environment. A fun feature of the garden is the Bug Hotel, which offers shelter for beneficial insects like solitary bees and ladybugs. It's both a creative addition and a learning tool for students.

By helping to fund this project, the Crofton Village Garden Club continues its mission to encourage conservation and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: Feeding Behavior and Tree Management

The Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), a migratory woodpecker found in the eastern United States and Canada, is known for its unique feeding behavior, which sets it apart from other woodpeckers. Rather than drilling holes to find insects, sapsuckers drill into living trees to access sap and phloem tissues. During early spring, they test various trees to find those with high sugar content, preferring thin-barked species like birch and maple. While a few scattered rows of sap wells typically don’t harm trees, excessive holes—especially if they girdle the tree—can severely damage it. Girdling prevents the tree from transporting fluid through its phloem and xylem, which ultimately affects the tree’s health. Additionally, sap oozing from the holes can attract insects like bees and hornets, as well as wood-decaying fungi, which can further stress or even kill the tree. To manage this damage, several strategies can be employed. One effective method is to protect vulnerable trees by installing tree wraps or netting around the trunks to prevent the sapsuckers from reaching the bark. Visual deterrents, such as shiny objects like aluminum foil or reflective tape, or motion-activated noise devices can also discourage the birds. Applying tree-friendly adhesives or pastes to the trunk can make it harder for sapsuckers to drill holes, though it's important to ensure the substance is safe for the tree. Offering alternative food sources, such as sugar water feeders, can divert the sapsuckers from more vulnerable trees. Maintaining overall tree health through proper care, watering, and fertilization helps trees recover from minor damage. In cases of severe girdling, pruning or applying wound dressings can assist in healing. For extensive damage, consulting an arborist for tailored solutions may be necessary.