(559) 855-5840 office@sierrarcd.com

Lanes Monarch & Native Pollinator Garden

In partnership with multiple organizations, we are committed to establishing a monarch and native pollinator garden in a 2,600 sq ft bed on a San Joaquin River Conservancy property. 

Lanes Monarch & Native Pollinator Garden Overview

Monarch and native pollinator gardens are essential to the environment. We are excited to play a small role in such a huge aspect of life and do our part where ever needed. We recognize and appreciate all organizations that are involved and are always looking for new partnerships! We can’t wait to see the results these beautiful partnerships will have contributed to!

Goals:

  • Educate the public about pollinator habitats.
  • Educate the public on native plants and pollinators.
  • Attract native bird and insect populations.
  • Educate on implementing and maintaining a pollinator habitat.
  • Display a beautiful garden that will be open to the public and be a model for future projects in the area.

 

Pictures Throughout Our Migration

2,600 sq ft bed from Google Maps

Initial State of Garden

Soil Samples for Lanes Garden

Sago Palm Removal

Sago Palm Removal

Sago Palm Removal

Sago Palm Removal

Sago Palm Removal

Sago Palm Removal

Cardboard Station

Fountain Removal

Stump Removal

Cardboard Soaking

Sod & Stump Removal

Bush Removal

Sod & Stump Removal

Sod Removal

Sod & Stump Removal

Hole from Stump Removal

Swale Digging/Laying Down Wet Cardboard

Swale Digging/Laying Down Wet Cardboard

Capping Irrigation Line

3/4/23

Leveling Out Ground

Leveling Out Ground

Laying Down Cardboard and River Rock in Swale

Diggin of Pathways

Laying Down Mulch

3/24/23

Boy Scouts Corner

Swale

3/24/23

Milkweed

Milkweed

IMG_4153

Milkweed

3/27/23 Swale

3/4/23

3/27/23

4/17/23

4/17/23

River Tree Bench

River Tree Bench

4/18/23

4/20/23

4/20/23

4/20/23

CCC

Partners

Donors

Grants

Timeline & Next Steps

  • John Shelton (San Joaquin River Conservancy) had the idea of starting a pollinator garden in a 2,600 sq ft bed at the San Joaquin River Conservancy Lanes property in collaboration with Sierra RCD and Boy Scouts Troop 301. John Shelton shares the idea with the Executive Director of Sierra RCD, Steve Haze, and the project is delegated to Alyssa Flores (Sierra RCD). (September 2022)
  • Reached out to UC Master Gardners for assistance with developing a monarch and native pollinator garden in a 2,600 sq ft bed at the San Joaquin River Conservancy Lanes property (9/16/22)
    • Alyssa Flores (Sierra RCD)
  • Debbie DiNoto (UC Master Gardener) reached out to Alyssa Flores (Sierra RCD) to help assist with the Lanes Garden (9/20/22)
  • Brainstorming ideas and potential partners/resources for the garden
    • Alyssa Flores (Sierra RCD) and Debbie DiNoto (UC Master Gardener)
  • Developed plans and PowerPoint, including materials needed for the 2,600 sq ft bed
    • Debbie DiNoto (UC Master Gardener)
  • Outreach to potential partners for the garden 
    • Alyssa Flores (Sierra RCD), Debbie DiNoto (UC Master Gardener), Veronica Martinez (Sierra RCD)
  • Applied for Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District IPM grant (12/1/22)
    • Alyssa Flores, Veronica Martinez, and Debbie DiNoto (UC Master Gardener)
  • Sago palm removal (1/25/23)
    • Sago Rey Nursery 
  • Granted $4,000 from Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District to host IPM event to teach grade school students about bug hotels, IPM, and how pesticides can affect water quality. (2/15/23)
  • Received river rock donation from Cemex and Granite Construction (3/2/23)
    • Veronica Martinez (Sierra RCD) and Solene Jimenez (Granite Construction)
  • March 4th Workday: Boy Scouts, Fresno City College volunteers, California Conservation Corps, Central Valley College Corps, Fresno State Volunteers, Community members, Sierra RCD, San Joaquin River Conservancy, UCCE Master Gardner
  • Sod removal (3/4/23)
    • Boy Scouts and Fresno City College/Fresno State Volunteers
  • Removal of the existing fountain (3/4/23)
    • Sierra RCD and Boy Scouts
  • Removal of existing stumps (3), bushes, and trees (3/4/23)
    • California Conservation Corps, Sierra RCD Forestry, San Joaquin River Conservancy
  • Irrigation line capping
    • San Joaquin River Conservancy
  • Digging of the swale (3/4/23)
    • California Conservation Corps
  • Laying down cardboard (3/4/23)
    • Boy Scouts, California Conservation Corps, Fresno State Volunteers, Sierra RCD staff
  • Laying down mulch (3/4/23)
    • Boy Scouts, California Conservation Corps, Fresno State Volunteers, Sierra RCD staff
  • March 24th Workday: AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps, Central Valley College Corps, Sierra RCD, UCCE Master Gardeners, San Joaquin River Conservancy
  • Leveling out Boy Scouts area (3/24/23)
    • AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps, and Central Valley College Corps
  • Digging out pathways (3/24/23)
    • AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps, and Central Valley College Corps
  • Fill in the swale with cardboard and river rock (3/24/23)
    • AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps, and Central Valley College Corps
  • Fill in the Boy Scouts corner with river rock (3/24/23)
    • AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps, and Central Valley College Corps
  • Laying down more cardboard and mulch (3/24/23)
    • AmeriCorps, California Conservation Corps, and Central Valley College Corps
  • Applied for Xerces grant (3/26/23)
    • Veronica Martinez and Debbie DiNoto
  • Planted farrow-leaf milkweed and placed more river rock into the swale (3/28/23)
    • Debbie DiNoto (UC Master Gardener) and Central Valley College Corps
  • Move over the rest of the river rock into the swale and carve out the pathways with the remaining river rock (4/17/23)
    • Boy Scouts
  • California Conservation Corps added more mulch to the garden and pulled weeds. Central Valley College Corps added more river rock into the garden (4/20/23).
  • Central Valley College Corps adds more rock and pulls weeds (4/21/23).

In the Works: 

  • Chuck from River Tree is hoping to get one bench done as a demo to have for the UCANR Conference on Monday, April 24th 
    • River Tree and Boy Scouts Troop 8900 will complete benches for the garden
  • Fresno State Irrigation Club is working on the irrigation system

Up next: 

  • Fencing
    • Setbacks: Funding
  • Worm Castings: 
    • Setbacks: Funding
  • Pathway mulch: 
    • Setbacks: Funding
  • Raised beds: 
    • Setbacks: Funding 
  • Fountain
    • Setbacks: Funding
  • Planting: 
    • Setback: Funding and coming near the end of the planting season
  •  Bridge over river rock 
    • Setbacks: Funding

Looking Ahead: 

  • Signage for plants
  • Signage for donors and partners
  • ADA Compliant
  • Visitor stand

Contact Us

We are always looking for new partners in the garden and organizations that would like to join in on the fun! We are also open to new and creative ideas that could make our garden as efficient and pollinator-friendly as possible. Feel free to ring or email us to discuss any questions or conversations about the Lanes & Monarch Pollinator Garden.

Project Director: Alyssa Flores

Contact Information: aflores@sierrarcd.com

UCCE Master Gardener: Debbie DiNoto

Contact Information: dcdinoto@aol.com