Native plants

MCD Board Meets in Person to Review Conservation Programs and Plan Fall Initiatives

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Dr. Margaret Delano, Kathie Becker, Harley Monteiro, Dick Gelpke, Mary Lauve, Isabel Bailey, Andrea Grossman, and Kaitlyn McAuley.

On Monday, June 8, Middlesex Conservation District (MCD) supervisors, associate supervisors, and staff gathered at Kimball Farm in Westford to hold their annual in-person board meeting. The MCD meets monthly, in addition to activities and educational sessions, but these monthly governance sessions are usually virtual, making the annual in-person meeting an important opportunity for members … Read more

Why We Prioritize Locally Native Plants in Middlesex County

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Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis) feeding on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), a pale purple flower with narrow petals.

The Middlesex Conservation District works to support conservation practices on this landscape through local partnerships and voluntary action. Prioritizing native plants that are part of this region’s ecosystems is one practical way to do that. Defining “Native” vs. “Local” Here in the United States, we have a complex history with the concept of “native,” shaped … Read more

Spring 2026 Native Plant Sale

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On Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, more than 300 customers came to Minuteman High School in Lexington in search of native plants. Scale and Preparation In the days leading up to the sale, Middlesex Conservation District supervisors and volunteers packed nearly 2,900 plants for 227 pre-orders, representing 44 species of locally native forbs, … Read more

A Big Shoutout to our Vendors and Minuteman High School!

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Written by Andrea Grossman. Edited by Miri Becker. With the success of our 2025 Fall Native Plant Sale, we wanted to give a shoutout to Minuteman High School, Dragonfly Natives, and our other vendors.  We want to first thank Minuteman High School for hosting us for our Fall Sale and for future sales to come! … Read more

With Gratitude, We Thank You for the Success of our 2025 Fall Plant Sale!

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Written by Andrea Grossman. Edited by Miri Becker. We want to thank everyone who bought plants at our 2025 Fall Plant Sale, our wonderful volunteers, and those who donated directly to the District. We couldn’t have done it without you.  With our efforts to provide the public of Middlesex County with native plants, we were … Read more

2025 Fall Native Plant Sale

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Ordering is open! Ordering deadline is September 5th! We welcome you to our 2025 Fall Plant Sale! Similar to our previous two sales, we will have wildflowers, shrubs, grasses and more. All plant material will come as plugs. All of our native plant varieties are straight species, meaning that no cultivars will be sold. It … Read more

Spring Native Plant Seed Sale

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Photo of New England Aster. Photo Courtesy of Prairie Moon Nursery.

Ordering is now closed. Welcome to 2024! This year, we are reimagining our traditional plant sale. Instead of seedlings, we will be selling seed packets of a variety of native plants. These plants will be straight species, meaning that no cultivars will be sold. It has been found that cultivars often do not have the … Read more

Why and How to Build a Pollination Preservation Garden

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A Presentation by Giancarla Kalpas of The Bumblebee Project When: March 27, 2024, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PMDuration: 1 hour presentation with Q&A welcome afterwardsProgram Type: In-person and Zoom (email the District Administrator below for Zoom Link after registration if you wish to attend virtually)Where: J.V. Fletcher Library50 Main StreetWestford, MA 01886Cost: Free, Registration PreferredSpeakers: … Read more