Have You Seen the New Pollinator Garden on the Paint Creek Trail?

Garden Honors Late Paint Creek Trail Bike Patroller David Moutrie

Friends of the Paint Creek Trail Logo

Friends of the Paint Creek Trail

The Friends of the Paint Creek Trail in conjunction with the Paint Creek Trailways Commission recently installed a new pollinator garden along the Paint Creek Trail. The new garden is located approximately ¼ mile north of Tienken Road in Rochester Hills.

Moutrie straddles his bike along the trail

Paint Creek Trail Bike Patroller David Moutrie

Named in honor of the late David Moutrie, a teacher, environmentalist, and active supporter of the Paint Creek Trail, the garden is a fitting tribute to a man known by many as the “Trail Ambassador.” Moutrie served as Paint Creek Trail Bike Patroller until 2012 and was greatly admired for his dedication to the Trail.

The Moutrie Pollinator Garden features low-maintenance, native plants in support of pollinators and was designed by Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. Much attention has been paid as of late to the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. The week of June 22-28 marked the 13th consecutive celebration of Pollinator Week, which focuses on the vital role bees, birds, butterflies, bats, and beetles play in our agriculture and ecosystems. The Moutrie Pollinator Garden includes numerous pollinator-friendly plants such as Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Arrowhead Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum), and Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier).

Benches will be added to the garden in the coming weeks allowing trail users to relax and observe the visiting pollinators. Interpretative signage will also be placed in the garden to help educate the public about the importance of pollinators in our environment and the role native plants can play in helping to save them.

“We view this garden as an important community enhancement as there are thousands of visitors to the Trail annually and this garden site is along the most heavily traveled section,” said Louis Carrio, President of the Friends Group. “There is a pedestrian path through the garden and there will be seating areas for people to sit and enjoy the flowers and visiting pollinators. We plan to have on-site information about the critical role of pollinators and how the plants in the garden support their existence.”

Rock Blanchard, Chairman of the Paint Creek Trail Commission, who headed up the pollinator garden project along with Carrio, commented, “I am extremely pleased to see the pollinator garden planted – it looks great. The reaction from the trail users has been overwhelmingly positive. I am looking forward to putting in the final touches and to a summer of enjoying the flowering plants and bees and butterflies.”

Three different views of the same garden with trees and plants

The Moutrie Pollinator Garden

The garden is supported by generous donations from the Moutrie Family and Friends, Rochester Junior Women’s Club, Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, Sammy C. & Betty R. Cupp Foundation Fund, WCI Contractors, Inc., Audubon Bird Society, Ray Wiegand’s Nursery, The Preede Foundation, Tim Moutrie, and Dean Fitzpatrick.

About the Paint Creek Trail: The Paint Creek Trail was the first non-motorized rail-to-trail in the State of Michigan, and traverses through the communities of Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township, and the Village of Lake Orion. The Trail annually serves approximately 100,000 pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians, anglers, nature enthusiasts, and users of all ages and abilities. For more information about the Paint Creek Trail call 248-651-9260.

About the Friends of the Paint Creek Trail: The Friends of the Paint Creek Trail is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to give trail users the opportunity to help plan for the future of the trail and to assist with its environmental stewardship. Its mission is to promote the usage, maintenance, and improvements of the Paint Creek Trail.

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Comments

  1. Donna Griffiths says

    Is there an area map showing where you can join the trail from various points north? I live in the Thumb.

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