Save Our Monarchs
  • Monarch Story
    • Why Milkweed?
    • Monarch Migration
    • Help Us Expand
    • How To Raise Monarch Butterflies At Home
    • How You Can Help
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Get Seeds
    • Seed Packets
    • Bulk Seeds
  • Donate
    • School Pollinator Garden Program
    • Nebraska/SOM
    • Donate Stock
    • In Memoriam
    • In Honor
  • Store
    • Milkweed Seeds
    • Save Our Monarchs Gear
    • Gift Cards
  • Schools
  • Habitat Projects
    • Corridors For Pollinators
    • Pollinator Garden Program
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • News
    • Testimonials
    • Irvin & Gladys
    • Contact Us
  • Blog

Senior Pollinator Garden Program

1/24/2021

28 Comments

 

Save Our Monarchs is offering a new program for people living in Senior Living Centers, Nursing Homes and Hospitals.

There are a myriad of health benefits from gardening including reducing stress levels, improving mental focus, increasing physical activity and much more. 

With a $12 donation, you will receive 2 packets Milkweed seed and 2 pouches of our Pollinator Mix. This amount of seed will create a 10' x 15' Senior Pollinator Garden!

Please read the full description of both the Milkweed Seeds and the Pollinator Pouches below. 

It is our hope that the Senior Pollinator Garden Program will encourage people living in these facilities, along with their caretakers, family and friends, to plant beautiful gardens that they will benefit from along with the pollinators. 

Picture
Stock image from adobe stock.

What is included in the seed packets?

Picture
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Wikipedia Commons.

Common Milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca)

"Common milkweed is Nature's mega food market for insects. Over 450 insects are known to feed on some portion of the plant."

David Taylor U.S. Forest Service
Each Milkweed seed packet contains 25-30 Asclepias syriaca milkweed seeds with instructions for planting.

As the name implies, Common Milkweed is a widespread species known from most of the eastern United States and the eastern  prairie states as well as southern Canada from New Brunswick to Saskatchewan.

According to the US Forest Service, "Common milkweed is Nature's mega food market for insects. Over 450 insects are known to feed on some portion of the plant." (Taylor)

If you live in one of the western states that Common Milkweed isn't found, we recommend looking up your state in this very handy site to find what milkweed you should plant! 


Picture
Range map of Asclepias syriaca. States are colored green where the species may be found. Map by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Pollinator Seed Packet

Picture
Photo by Rebecca Chandler. Pollinator mix in its third year of growth.
This is a complete Wildflower Garden mixture, featuring two varieties of Milkweed, and includes all of the Perennial and Annual seeds needed for a great looking garden.

This perennial mix includes several varieties of host and nectar sources. 

In the first year, the annuals will bloom with a beautiful display of colors and nectar for our pollinators while the perennial plants will begin to establish their root systems.
In the second year, the perennials will begin to put on leaves and most will begin blooming.
By the third year, the perennials will be fully established and be in their full glory as the photo from my garden displays! 

​
Common Milkweed (Qty. 100)
Butterfly Milkweed (Qty. 25)
Partridge Pea (Qty. 15)
Lance Leaved Coreopsis (Qty. 20)
Plains Coreopsis (Qty. 12)
Cosmos Sensation Mix (Qty. 10)
Purple Coneflower (Qty. 20)
California Poppy (Qty. 12)
Blanket Flower (Qty. 10)
Dwarf Sunspot Sunflower (Qty. 7)
Meadow Foam (Qty. 7)
Dwarf Lupine (Qty. 12)
Perennial Lupine (Qty. 5)
Arroyo Lupine (Qty. 5)
Bee Balm/Wild Bergamont (Qty. 5)
Lacy Phacella (Qty. 5)
Mexican Hat (Qty. 5)

References

Taylor, David. US Forest Service. Plant of the Week: Common Milkweed.
​https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/asclepias_syriaca.shtml

Grow Milkweed Plants. Discover Native Milkweed by State.
https://www.growmilkweedplants.com/usa.html

Butterfly Milkweed Plant Profile, USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service.
​https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ASTU
28 Comments

    Author

    Rebecca Chandler
    Garden Educator, Naturalist and Ethnobotanist

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

NOTE: You can also receive FREE SEEDS by sending us a self-addressed stamped envelope to: 
​
Save Our Monarchs | P.O. Box 947 | Chanhassen, MN 55317
Please include a $5 donation with each request.
​
Get Seeds
Donate
Forum
Blog
Contact Us
Privacy
  • Monarch Story
    • Why Milkweed?
    • Monarch Migration
    • Help Us Expand
    • How To Raise Monarch Butterflies At Home
    • How You Can Help
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Get Seeds
    • Seed Packets
    • Bulk Seeds
  • Donate
    • School Pollinator Garden Program
    • Nebraska/SOM
    • Donate Stock
    • In Memoriam
    • In Honor
  • Store
    • Milkweed Seeds
    • Save Our Monarchs Gear
    • Gift Cards
  • Schools
  • Habitat Projects
    • Corridors For Pollinators
    • Pollinator Garden Program
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • News
    • Testimonials
    • Irvin & Gladys
    • Contact Us
  • Blog