The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Department of Agricultural Resources, and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) have announced the launch of the fifth year of the Growing Wild program. This initiative encourages residents to plant native species to support pollinator habitats. Governor Maura Healey has declared May 30 as “Growing Wild Day” in Massachusetts, marking a significant milestone in efforts to protect native species and restore pollinator habitats.
This year’s program offers free pollinator starter kits at 18 nurseries and six DCR parks across the state starting Friday, May 30, 2025. For the first time, DCR has partnered with Indigenous communities including Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe to provide plants for their use. State and local leaders will gather at Rogers Spring Hill Garden Center in Haverhill for a public launch event celebrating the program’s growth.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper stated, “Growing native plants and attracting pollinators in our gardens is a great way to show our commitment to protecting nature and wildlife.”
In celebration of National Pollinators Month in June, Growing Wild offers free starter kits containing two one-gallon native perennial plants, seed packets, and educational resources on gardening. Kits will be available at participating nurseries and Tribal community sites for the first time this year.
DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo emphasized the importance of partnerships: “The Growing Wild program enables us to partner with our state agency and nursery partners to give residents the tools to create and nurture their own pollinator and native plant gardens.”
MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle highlighted the program’s role in agricultural sustainability: “Residents who plant native and supporting pollinators are helping to build a more resilient food system.”
Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are crucial for ecosystems. In Massachusetts, they are vital for biodiversity but face threats from habitat loss, invasive plants, pesticides, and climate change. Growing Wild aims to counter these challenges by encouraging residents to register their gardens on the Massachusetts Pollinator Map.
MNLA Executive Director Rena Sumner expressed support for creating environmentally responsible landscapes: “As green industry professionals, we’re proud to support residents in creating beautiful, healthy, and environmentally responsible landscapes.”
Since its inception in 2021, Growing Wild has distributed nearly 6,000 starter kits covering an estimated 6.5 acres of habitat statewide. More information is available on the MNLA Growing Wild website.
