Pollinator Gardens

Zion Pollinator Gardens were begun by Pastor Ben Fiore. He retired to Hillsboro, IL, to create his own pollinator gardens. First came a small garden with the ground scraped and plants put in the ground. This is just north of the church. It is doing well, home to many pollinators and “Ben’s Bunnies” that frolic on the church lawn.

The spring when that garden was planted, another larger garden to the east of the church was begun by putting down heavy black plastic to kill off the grass sod. The following spring, that garden was planted with native pollinator seeds, covered with mulch. It also is thriving, with pollinators and small animals as well.

The recycled black plastic was then put down on two smaller gardens to the north, just west of the shed. One and a half of them were planted and mulched, and the final half left for the Sunday School to plant. Unfortunately, COVID disrupted that plan. When they gathered again, painted rocks for around the first garden were the Sunday School contribution, and the final quarter was planted with seeds and mulch. Those two last gardens are also now thriving.

Late winter 2024/Spring, the gardens were all burned off, as is recommended to control weeds and woody plants. Six board members helped, and the Mt. Olive Fire Department was available as needed. The gardens were then mowed down evenly.

Zion has been using many of the native flowers on the altar on Sundays, so everyone can enjoy them as an offering. Packets of mixed seeds from all of the gardens are available if any of our friends and neighbors want to follow this pollinator adventure!