Icon of hummingbird

POLLINATOR HABITAT GARDEN

Habitat Restoration

The Riverine Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists has partnered with Friends of Bandy Field Nature Park to bring a habitat garden to Bandy Field. 

The map shows the location (click to enlarge).

Sleepy Orange butterfly

Here what’s buzzing and blooming in the habitat garden, July 2025

Monarch butterfly on a false sunflower (courtesy of Jim Easton)

Monarch butterfly on a false sunflower (courtesy of Jim Easton)

Monarch butterfly on Joe Pye weed (courtesy of Jim Easton)

Monarch butterfly on Joe Pye weed (courtesy of Jim Easton)

Oblique streaktail hoverfly (Allograpta obliqua, courtesy of Dana Blackmer)

Oblique streaktail hoverfly (Allograpta obliqua, courtesy of Dana Blackmer)

Southern bronze furrow bee (Halictus confusus, courtesy of Dana Blackmer)

Southern bronze furrow bee (Halictus confusus, courtesy of Dana Blackmer)

Silver spotted skipper on wild bergamot (courtesy of Jim Easton)

Silver spotted skipper on wild bergamot (courtesy of Jim Easton)

Horace's duskywing on Blunt mountain mint (courtesy of Jim Easton)

Horace's duskywing on Blunt mountain mint (courtesy of Jim Easton)

Here is what is buzzing and blooming in the habitat garden May and June 2025 (photos courtesy of Dana Blackmer)

Mist Flower

Mist Flower

Monarch caterpillar (3rd Instar stage)

Monarch caterpillar (3rd Instar stage)

Bicolored striped sweat bee (Agapostomon virescens)

Bicolored striped sweat bee (Agapostomon virescens)

Eastern tailed blue butterfly (Cupido comyntas)

Eastern tailed blue butterfly (Cupido comyntas)

Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Lacewing

Lacewing

Sweat bee (Lassio glossum)

Sweat bee (Lassio glossum)

Common green bottle fly (Lucillia secicata)

Common green bottle fly (Lucillia secicata)

The pictures below illustrate some of the work undertaken to prepare the area and install the plants.

The Habitat Garden lies between the Pine Forest and the site of the last home on Bandy Field where today a wooden bench is framed by two very old trees, a black walnut and a mulberry.

The Habitat Garden lies between the Pine Forest and the site of the last home on Bandy Field where today a wooden bench is framed by two very old trees, a black walnut and a mulberry.

November 2023 Volunteer Day. To smother the grass and seed bank in the area, volunteers hauled 30 yards of wood chips to cover the area to a depth of one foot. Decomposing chips improved the soil.

November 2023 Volunteer Day. To smother the grass and seed bank in the area, volunteers hauled 30 yards of wood chips to cover the area to a depth of one foot. Decomposing chips improved the soil.

Fall equinox work day, September 21, 2024. Removal of mulch begins in preparation for planting.

Fall equinox work day, September 21, 2024. Removal of mulch begins in preparation for planting.

October 11, 2024. Volunteers laid out the pots in preparation for planting day.

October 11, 2024. Volunteers laid out the pots in preparation for planting day.

October 12, 2024. A host of volunteers came to help with planting.

October 12, 2024. A host of volunteers came to help with planting.

Over 200 perennials, 150 native grass plugs and 100 native strawberry plugs were planted. Some plants were donated, but FOBFNP paid for most plants and other costs with a total expenditure of $1,800.

Over 200 perennials, 150 native grass plugs and 100 native strawberry plugs were planted. Some plants were donated, but FOBFNP paid for most plants and other costs with a total expenditure of $1,800.

Pollinators began to arrive on the day of planting. Here are two mating hoverflies on an aster.

Pollinators began to arrive on the day of planting. Here are two mating hoverflies on an aster.

Red-Spotted Purple butterfly resting on the wood chips in the habitat garden.

Red-Spotted Purple butterfly resting on the wood chips in the habitat garden.