Our gardens in Lower Price Hill have been full of life this season. That’s not just from our plants, but from the many creatures that call the gardens home. Observing them helps us understand how a healthy ecosystem works right in our own neighborhood.

Pollinators have spent months transferring pollen between blossoms, helping our vegetables produce fruit. The Sassafras Garden has had an abundance of honey bees this year, with a large hive built in a neighboring vacant building! Ladybugs provided natural pest control, keeping aphids and other harmful insects in balance. Beetles, like the grapevine beetle pictured above, quietly improve our soil structure, making it richer and more fertile for future plantings.

We’ve also spotted raccoons, birds, snakes, and even a notorious, cabbage-loving groundhog or two—reminding us that urban gardens can provide food, water, and shelter for wildlife, too. Every creature, big and small, plays a role in keeping our gardens thriving!