Over the last several months, the Rye DPW has transformed a weed-filled and debris-cluttered space along Purdy Avenue into a destination for pollinators. Starting this spring, the crew added American elms by the benches to provide shade. They planted Joe Pye Weed, a Monarch butterfly magnet, against the ornamental metal fence. That historically significant fence, which dates to 1902, outlines the playground at Rye Grammar School, which was renamed Midland Annex before closing in the 1970s. Today, the playground is a municipal parking lot.
Recently, Bergamot and Black-eyed Susan were added. These attractive and native ornamental perennials will provide nectar, food, and shelter for pollinators, from hummingbirds to native bees, and attract songbirds.
Thank you, DPW.
