Cross Pollination

The Cummington Tree Alliance presents two pre-recorded talks by Doug Tallamy, a leading voice in ecological gardening and biodiversity: What’s the Rush? (approx. 45 minutes) and The Nature of Oaks (approx. 20 minutes)

Introduced by Amy Pulley, the program explores the critical role of native plants—especially oaks—in supporting insects, birds, and overall ecosystem health. Together, these presentations make a compelling case for the role that individual landowners and communities can play in restoring biodiversity.

Amy Pulley is a Cummington-based pollinator advocate and native habitat specialist. Over the past decade, she has focused on restoring and enhancing biodiversity on her land through native plant stewardship. She is also the founder of a local native plant nursery, which she operated for 11 years, supporting the broader adoption of ecologically beneficial landscapes throughout the region.

The Cummington Tree Alliance Invites interested residents to request a free tree and/or one to three native shrubs. Each area resident will be able to choose from a variety of species on a first come first served basis. All plantings are available in limited quantities.

Review native and heritage tree and shrub guides linked below, and complete the form for each to make a request by the end of April. Then take part in planting week April 28-May 9 alongside other volunteers, led by the Cummington Tree Alliance.

The Cummington Tree Alliance and the Hilltown Vision Fund present The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a documentary by Jeff McKay.

Introduced by Amy Pulley, this visually rich and engaging film reveals the hidden world of caterpillars and their essential role in healthy ecosystems. Featuring leading voices in ecology—including Doug Tallamy—the film shows how these often-overlooked creatures are critical to supporting birds, pollinators, and overall biodiversity. It makes a compelling case for planting native species and rethinking how we care for our landscapes.

Amy Pulley is a Cummington-based pollinator advocate and native habitat specialist. Over the past decade, she has focused on restoring and enhancing biodiversity on her land through native plant stewardship. She is also the founder of a local native plant nursery, which she operated for 11 years, supporting the broader adoption of ecologically beneficial landscapes throughout the region.

Many people now realize the importance of pollinators and other essential wildlife. They want to make their yard pollinator-friendly, but don’t know where to start. This talk will step you through the process of evaluation, planning, and implementation, with many options for large and small changes. 

Heidi Dollard is a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Massachusetts Pollinator Network. She works to educate gardeners and homeowners on how they can support pollinators and other beneficial wildlife while creating a beautiful and low maintenance landscape. She has a MS in Biology, is a Master Gardener, a member of the Garden Club of Amherst, and has been a consultant for the Hampden Hampshire Conservation District Native Plant program. She has been an enthusiastic native plant gardener for many years.

This talk takes place at the Cummington Community House.