Gilbert & Adams Central Park

A  small park with Harbor views and beautifully kept gardens, located at 3 Park Drive. The gardens are the work of long-time volunteer Susan Beebe, who has filled them with native vegetation designed to attract birds and pollinators.

Below is a list of Plants, Birds, and Pollinators that may be found in the park:

Birds nesting in or near Park

• Song sparrow Melospiza melodia
• Gray Catbird Dumatella carolinensis
• Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
• Yellow warbler Dendroica petechia
• House finch Carpodacus mexicanus
• Birds visiting Park to forage and use birdbath
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochis colubris
• Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
• American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
• American Robin Turdus migratorius
• Common Yellowthroat Geothlyptis trichas
• Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
• Mourning dove Zenaida macroura
• Rock Pigeon Columbia Livia

Butterflies and Moths known to reproduce in Park
(This means their host plants are present.)

• Polyphemus moth (giant silk moth)Anthera polyphemus
• Cecropia moth (giant silk moth)Hyalophora cecropia
• Monarch butterfly Danaus plexipus
• American lady butterfly Vanessa virginiensis
• Isabella moth (Wooly bear caterpillar) Jsia Isabella

Butterflies and Moths visiting Park to nectar

• Red Admiral butterfly Vanessa atalanta
• Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui
• Black swallowtail butterfly Papilio polyxenes
• Tiger swallowtail butterfly Papilio glaucus
• Snowberry clearwing moth Hemaris diffinis

Bees and other Pollinators visiting and/or nesting in Park

• Bumble bees Bombus sp. (Very likely nest in Park.)
• European honey bees Apis mellifera
• Leaf cutter bees Megachile sp.
• Long-horned bees Melissodes sp.
• Green sweat bees Agapostemon sp.
• Hover or syrphid flies Sphaerophoria philanthus

Native Shrubs Planted and Benefits to Wildlife

• Spicebush Lindera benzoin – Host plant for Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly
• Flowering Raspberry Rubus odorata – Flowers feed native bees and honeybees
• Red Raspberry Rubusideaus – Berries feed 50 species of songbirds
• Black Raspberry Rubus occidentalis – As above
• Black Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia – Fruits eaten by 12 species of birds
• Virginia rose Rosa virginiana – Flowers feed native bees, hips eaten by birds
• Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica – Berries feed tree swallows, yellow-rumped warblers
• Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis – Flowers feed native bees, berries feed birds
• Snowberry Symphoricarpus albus – Host plant for Snowberry and Hummingbird Clearwing moth

Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines Already Present in 2010

• Box elder Acer negundo – Seeds are the preferred winter food of evening grosbeaks and purple finches
• Pussy willow Salix spp – Earliest to bloom, feeds emerging Queen bumble bees
• Staghom sumac Rhus typhina Winter – persisting berries feed robins, and at least 21 other species of birds
• Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia – Berries feed 35 species of birds

Native Herbaceous Plants Planted and Benefits to Wildlife

• Goldenrod Solidago spp – Top herbaceous plant in New England for biodiversity, feeds dozens of species of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects
• New England aster Symphotrichum novae-angliae – Host plant for Crescent and Buckeye butterflies, feeds migrating monarch butterflies and many species of bees, including Queen bumble bees preparing for hibernation
• Milkweed Asclepias syrica – Host plant for monarch caterpillars, feeds a whole community of insect species
• Culver’s root Veronicastrum spp – Feeds native bees and honeybees
• Howell’s pussytoes Antennaria howelli – Host plant for American Lady butterfly caterpillars
• Wild strawberry Fragaria spp. – Feeds native bees, berries feed birds
• Violets Viola spp – Host plant for Fritillary butterfly caterpillars
• Solomon’s seal Polygonatum bifolium – Flowers feed hummingbirds, bees
• Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica – Blooms early spring, feeds emerging Queen bumble bees
• Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis As above
• Jacob’s ladder Polemonium reptans – As above
• Wild ginger Asarum canadensis – As above
• Obedient plant Physostegia virginiana – Feeds native bees and honeybees
• Christmas fem Polystichum acrosticoides – Helps control erosion
• Turtlehead Che/one glabra – Host plant for Baltimore checkerspot butterfly caterpillar