Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge Pollinator Gardens
In partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Garden Club of Lake Ridge designed and installed two native pollinator gardens at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This project reflects the refuge’s mission of habitat restoration and public education, emphasizing the use of local-ecotype native plants that provide food and shelter for pollinators.
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The gardens were installed on May 16, 2025, within two raised beds (each 4’ x 8’) in a full-sun area near the visitor center. The project continued through September 2025 with interpretive signage and follow-up maintenance. These beds now serve as living classrooms for the public to learn about pollinators and the importance of native plants in landscape design.
Pollinator Garden Design
The success of the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge Pollinator Gardens was driven by the vision and dedication of Debbie Walker, who served as the project’s guiding force. She coordinated the design, plant selection, and overall project planning, ensuring that the gardens met both ecological and educational goals.
Pollinator Gardens - Before
The initial recommendation from USFWS was to remove all existing vegetation to start fresh. However, following an on-site evaluation by Debbie Walker of the Garden Club of Lake Ridge, several healthy, established milkweed plants were retained to preserve existing pollinator habitat. Additional smaller milkweed, along with goldenrod and helenium, were incorporated to extend bloom time and provide continuous nectar and color through the seasons.
Pollinator Gardens
On May 16, 2025, Debbie Walker and two refuge maintenance personnel prepared the beds, improved the soil with compost, removed unwanted plants and weeds, and finally installed the new Earth Sangha plants. Mulch was applied to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. The design blended color, height, and texture to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds while maintaining a cohesive, natural appearance.
Interpretative Signage
In September, the interpretive signage was installed that identifies this garden as a dedicated native-plant habitat for pollinators, highlighting its role in supporting butterflies, bees, and other native wildlife, and includes a sign recognizing the Garden Club of Lake Ridge for their contribution..
Maintenance
Throughout the summer, a couple club members and refuge staff maintained the gardens through watering, weeding, and plant monitoring
Garden Location
The pollinator gardens are located at the head of a main refuge hiking path near visitor pavilions and a parking lot and are viewed by many visitors each month.
Native Plant Selections
Plants were sourced from Earth Sangha’s Wild Plant Nursery, ensuring all selections were local-ecotype native plants propagated from wild populations within the region and ideally adapted for local soils, climate, and pollinators.
Public Education
Through thoughtful planning, ecological sensitivity, and collaboration, the club transformed two simple raised beds into thriving pollinator gardens that now serve as both a model of native plant landscape design and a valuable public education tool within the refuge.
Partnership and Collaboration
Successful partnership between a garden club, federal agency, and local native plant nursery.