BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has officially proclaimed May 30 as “Growing Wild Day” in Massachusetts to commemorate the fifth year of the state’s Growing Wild program, which encourages residents to support pollinator habitats by planting native species.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which launched the program in partnership with the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA), this year’s Growing Wild initiative includes expanded access to free pollinator starter kits. Kits will be available starting Friday, May 30, at 18 participating nurseries, six DCR parks, and—for the first time—three Tribal community sites in partnership with the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe.
Each kit includes two one-gallon native perennial plants, seed packets, and educational materials on pollinator-friendly gardening. Native species like milkweed and Joe Pye weed, both included in the kits, are valued in Indigenous traditions and critical to local biodiversity.
Kits will be available starting May 30 at the following nurseries across Massachusetts:
- Bemis Farms Nursery — Spencer
- Bigelow Nurseries — Northboro
- Busy Bee Nursery — Holden
- Dave’s Natural Garden — Granby
- Gulbankian Farms — Southborough
- Hart Farm Nursery — Dennis Port
- Kennedy’s Country Gardens — Scituate
- Perreault Nurseries — North Grafton
- Randall’s Farm — Ludlow
- Rogers Spring Hill Garden & Farm Center — Haverhill
- Soares Flower Garden Nursery — East Falmouth
- Ward’s Nursery & Garden Center — Great Barrington
- Weston Nurseries — Chelmsford, Hingham, Hopkinton, and Lincoln
- Wolf Hill Garden Center — Gloucester and Ipswich
Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and tend to go quickly — residents are encouraged not to wait.
“Growing native plants and attracting pollinators in our gardens is a great way to show our commitment to protecting nature and wildlife,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Growing Wild program helps us to transform lawns into safe havens for pollinators like bees and butterflies.”
In addition to nurseries, kits will also be distributed at six state parks on the following dates and times:
- Holyoke Heritage State Park – June 4, 12–2 p.m.
- Mt. Greylock Reservation (Lanesborough) – June 4, 1–3 p.m.
- Waquoit Bay Reserve (East Falmouth) – June 4, 2–4 p.m.
- Middlesex Fells Reservation (Stoneham) – June 5, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Blackstone Heritage Corridor (Worcester) – June 5, 1–3 p.m.
- Lawrence Heritage State Park – June 9, 1–3 p.m.
Since its launch in 2021, the Growing Wild program has distributed nearly 6,000 starter kits, helping to create an estimated 6.5 acres of pollinator habitat across the state. Residents are also encouraged to “Pledge Your Garden” by registering on the Massachusetts Pollinator Map — a visual record of native plantings across the state.
“Residents who plant native and support pollinators are helping to build a more resilient food system,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “This kind of public engagement is important for agricultural sustainability in Massachusetts.”
Pollinators like bees and butterflies play a vital role in agriculture and ecosystems. Roughly 75% of flowering plants and over a third of the food we eat depend on them. Yet habitat loss, invasive species, pesticides, and climate change continue to threaten their survival, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation said.
More information on the program, participating nurseries, and garden registration can be found at the MNLA Growing Wild website.