Interview by Kelly Postiglione. Photos submitted by Bridget DiDonato.
Bridget DiDonato, director of the Harrison Pollinator Pathway, is on a mission to protect pollinators and inspire our community to embrace the beauty and benefits of native plants. She shares her journey, the importance of pollinators, and how local families can get involved. Follow along on Instagram for more information and updates!
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I’m from Sturbridge, MA, a sweet little New England town. Now I live in Harrison, NY and although it’s 3x the size, it still feels small. I’m always bumping into someone familiar around town, which I love.
How many children do you have and what are their ages?
For now, we have two girls: ages 2.5 and 6 months.
What is your professional background and what inspired you to start Harrison Pollinator Pathway?
I worked in the conservation department of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. When I moved to New York, I worked in a 20th century American art gallery on the Upper East Side. We moved to Harrison in 2021, had our first daughter in 2022, and now I’m lucky enough to stay home full time with the girls.
I have always loved flowers. In college I worked for a florist, so when we bought our home I was really excited to start my own garden. After following all of the local garden clubs and pollinator groups on Instagram, I kept hearing about these plants called “natives,” and didn’t read much into them. But, when I learned that the monarch butterfly population has fallen 80% from the 1990s, I started paying attention. Then I learned that their caterpillars survive exclusively on one native plant called milkweed, which is rarely found in our suburban towns anymore, and I felt like I had to do something.
I was inspired to start the Harrison Pollinator Pathway because I love my town, and I know as a community we can do more to protect the butterflies and other pollinators; their survival benefits Harrison more than we know.
Tell us more about Harrison Pollinator Pathway!
The Pollinator Pathway initiative is national, with chapters in many Westchester towns. Ours is a volunteer-led organization, working to link together private and public gardens to create more pollinator-safe habitats. Pollinators are important because they are the base of our ecosystem here in Westchester. Their health impacts our food supply and all of the other animals up the food chain.
Can you tell us about the upcoming inaugural seed event at the Harrison Public Library?
Our first event is a workshop where attendees will learn to grow native plants from seed. (January 26, 2 pm at the Harrison Public Library)
One barrier to planting natives is that it can get expensive to change landscaping around. Growing plants from seed is more cost effective, and easy peasy with a few simple steps. I am giving away seeds and milk jugs to help people start their pollinator gardens.
How can local families get involved?
Our seed event would be great for older kids. We are giving away our “Grow Pollinator Snacks” zine, which teaches kids how to grow snacks for butterflies and bees. Families can pick one up at our library event, or fill out our contact form, and I will pack up some seeds for them.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook (@HarrisonPollinatorPathway) to stay up to date on other opportunities. I would be so happy to talk to anyone who has questions. I am not an expert myself, I didn’t go to school for this, but I can point you in the right direction.
Contact form: https://forms.gle/
Email: harrisonpollinatorpathway@
What are your goals for Harrison Pollinator Pathway and how do you hope to see it grow?
My priority is to show that planting native plants can be easy. Look, I understand what it’s like to have young kids and no time to think about something as small as bees and butterflies. I want to show residents that their contribution can be as easy as planting one milkweed plant and then going from there. Going native doesn’t require that you uproot all of your hydrangeas and convert your lawn to a meadow. There are countless beautiful native flowers that will look just as gorgeous in your existing landscaping and they require less maintenance than traditional ornamentals do.
In 2025 our two main initiatives are: helping residents plant native plants to bring pollinators back to our town, and planting our first public butterfly garden downtown. This will be at the “Welcome to Harrison” sign next to Maltifano park.
My hope is that soon our pollinator map will be filled with gardens throughout town with all kinds of native plants. I hope to inspire our children to care for their town and everyone in it, including the pollinators.
We love to support local businesses! What are some of your favorite spots here in the Sound Shore area?
My fav coffee shop is Laughing Horse in Harrison. They have managed to create such a cozy local spot, and it’s easy with kids.
The Snackery in Rye is my go-to sweet spot. If I could eat their banana cake every day, I would.
My favorite local spot to buy plants is Weaver Gardens in Larchmont. They have a great selection of natives and very helpful employees.
We are so thankful for our amazing community and the wonderful people and places that are a part of it. Check out our Blog page for more features that highlight local businesses! Looking for something to do in the Sound Shore area? Visit our Local Guides and Calendar pages to stay in the know, and follow along on Instagram for regular updates on local happenings.