What is Ellie’s Meadow?
The Sunapee Gardeners and LSPA are working together to create a demonstration pollinator garden in memory of Ellie Goddard (1939-2022). Ellie was a Master Gardener with a passion for gardening and for sharing her gardening knowledge. She was an active Sunapee resident and member of both LSPA and the Sunapee Gardeners and she worked tirelessly to beautify Sunapee. This garden is dedicated to her memory.
The meadow is located between the two rock walls above the parking lot at the Center for Lake Studies (63 Main St, Sunapee, NH 03782). Funding for the meadow comes from contributions made in Ellie’s memory. The meadow is a work in progress – come watch it grow!
What is a pollinator garden?
Flowering plants, shelter, and water are the key components. The plants should be native with a variety of flower shapes, colors, and bloom times. Using native plants is important because they are hardy, well suited to the area, and fulfill the needs of the area’s wildlife. Pesticides and fertilizers should not be applied.
Shelter can be nearby shrubs and trees or old logs, birdhouses, bee houses. Water can be as simple as a puddle or damp spot. The creation of good pollinator gardens provides food, water, and shelter for birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects throughout the seasons.
What has happened in the meadow so far?
Planning for the meadow began in 2022 when donations in Ellie’s memory began. That summer, work began to convert a previously mowed grassy hillside into a field of flowers to attract bees, birds, and butterflies without disturbing the soil or requiring substantial amounts of work. Summer 2023 was the start of the project when the outline of the meadow was defined by mowing only areas designated for paths and letting the rest grow. The area had previously been top seeded with wildflower seeds after the installation of the solar array left much of the area as bare ground. The plan for 2023 was to observe what plants were already established on the hillside.
Without periodic mowing, the hillside took on a new character. Daisies and buttercups emerged followed by goldenrod, clover, varied grasses, etc. But from the start, problems abounded from voracious woodchucks to crumbling walls, invasive plants, and extremely dense vegetation. Small clearings were made in the dense vegetation so that four varieties of native plants (dense blazing star, orange coneflower, swamp milkweed, butterfly weed) could be added. The orange coneflower and butterfly milkweed turned out to be favorite snacks of the groundhogs!
How can you help?
Currently a small group of volunteers supported by LSPA staff members has been overseeing the initial stages of the meadow. More volunteers are most welcome. There are opportunities for others to join in planting, creating bee houses and birdhouses, identifying plants, etc. Bring your talents to the meadow! To volunteer, please email info@sunapeegardeners.org.
How to Donate
If you would like to donate to Ellie’s Meadow, you can do so online at https://www.lakesunapee.org/donations. Select “Education Programs” and farther down under “Is this a Memorial or Honorary Gift?” select Memorial and type in Ellie Goddard as the person being honored or remembered. Your donation to LSPA will be tax deductible. You can also donate by sending a check addressed to LSPA: PO Box 683 Sunapee, NH 03782 with “Ellie’s Meadow” in the memo line.
Maintained by: Betsy (Garden Captain), Debbie, Donna, Ginny, Marilyn, Judy, Kathleen, Kiki, Muriel, Nina, Patty, Suzanne, Nick, and Tehya
Ellie's Garden - at the beginning a meadow left to grow without mowing in spring 2023.
