Monroe Conservation & Water Resources Commission

04/15/2020

Another free webinar series - this one by Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) called "A Walk in the Garden", every Wednesday through May 27. Sign up at

As people across the country and around the world adapt to ongoing limitations on gathering with family and friends and to new restrictions on movements around favorite green spaces, ELA is offering a new webinar series, A Walk in the Garden, that we hope will provide our community with much needed....

03/16/2020

Are you interested in birds and would like to learn more? Audubon has interesting free webinars monthly. The next one is Wednesday, March 18. The topic is Spring Migration. On-line registration is very simple. For more information please go to https://ny.audubon.org/events/inside-look-new-monthly-webinar-series. Enjoy!

Join us every month for an interactive webinar offering an inside look at the latest bird conservation science, research, and best practices.

11/15/2019

It's 'America Recycles Day'!. For a helpful guide to 'What's In/What's Out" in recycling, go to

08/07/2019

It's always a good day in the Pollinator Garden at Oak Grove, Great Hollow Lake park.

07/20/2019

The bees were loving the Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) today.

07/20/2019

The pollinator garden is doing its job! The Monarda was buzzing with bees today.

07/20/2019

The Pollinator Garden at Oak Grove is coming along nicely! First photo is from the 'entrance', 2nd photo is the original section that was planted in 2017, 3rd photo is of plants put in in 2018. Lots and lots of work left to do but it was buzzing with bees and other insects today!

06/18/2019

June 17 – June 23 is Pollinator Week in Connecticut!

Did you know Connecticut is home to about 326 native bees in addition to the domesticated honeybee?

Bees are key pollinators but they are not the only pollinators essential for producing much of our food supply. Pollinator species include birds, mammals, and a wide range of insects. They all provide significant environmental benefits that are necessary for maintaining healthy, bio-diverse ecosystems.

Pollinators are threatened by loss of habitat, pollution, chemicals, disease, and climate change. But we can all help by supporting preserved open space, reducing or eliminating our use of pesticides, and planting more of our beautiful native plants.

Let’s all do our part in supporting a healthy environment for our pollinators and for ourselves!

05/30/2019

CT Trails Day is Saturday, June 1- Join Monroe's Park Ranger for a hike at 10:00 am on the Yellow Loop Trail with commentary on tree and plant life along the way. At completion, an optional hike is available to the Webb Mountain Overlook for a majestic view of the Housatonic River Valley. All are ages welcome. For more information, to to

05/14/2019

A long but interesting article on very invasive Japanese Knotweed. If you have it on your property, keep cutting it to the ground and bag the cut pieces or they will root themselves and spread even more. Keep after it diligently and it is possible to get rid of it.

The invasive plant that crossed an ocean to terrorize my backyard is coming for yours.

05/05/2019

National Wildflower Week is May 6-12
Plan on planting wildflowers in your garden this year to support a healthy ecosystem. Some local plant sales happening in May:
- May 8 to May 11- Trumbull Agriscience School Mother's Day Plant Sale, 536 Daniels Farm Rd. Trumbull 10:00 to 4:00
- May 18 - Olde Ripton Garden Club at St. Paul's Church on Huntington Green, Shelton from 9 am to noon
- May 18 - Master Gardener Plant Sale & Garden Event, 67 Stony Hill Rd., Bethel from 9 am to 1:00

02/25/2019

There is still time to start native plants from seed! Many native plant seeds need about 2 months in a cold, moist environment to be able to germinate when the temperatures get warmer. You can mimic nature by planting the seeds now either in the ground or in plastic pots that are left outside. Easy to grow plants like Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), and Rose Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) will grow in full sun to part shade. Some perennials when started from seed may not flower the first year but will bloom the following year. You can grow dozens of plants from seed for less than the cost of one plant bought from a nursery. Look for plants that are native species for your area. Avoid cultivars – they may look good to us but often they are less beneficial for insects. There are many on-line sources for native plant seeds. If you plant Milkweed, even if it doesn’t flower this year, you are almost guaranteed to see Monarchs, it is the only plant Monarch caterpillars can eat. So get planting – the birds and bees will love you for it!!