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Senior Pollinator Garden Program

1/24/2021

24 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
24 Comments
Lisa m Hunt
1/26/2021 04:45:54 pm

Hello, Where do you order the Senior Pollinator Garden?

Reply
Trish Batten
4/17/2022 07:42:50 am

I would like a packet of the seeds starters please

Reply
Virginia Rohme link
5/1/2022 03:04:48 pm

I’m interested in this project.

Reply
Christine Baker
2/8/2021 03:14:55 pm

I am interested in the Senior Pollinator Project. How can I get started?

Reply
Deedee Dale
3/30/2021 01:29:51 pm

Please tell me how I can order the Senior Pollinator Project. I'm very excited to get started! Thank you!

Reply
brass tap link
5/8/2021 04:13:35 am

Love your website. Thank you for doing such a good job

Reply
Max Havlik
5/21/2021 12:19:14 pm

Today I was conversing with an old friend who lives in Rupert ID. along the Snake River below Minedoca Dam. Our conversation got around to Monarch butterflies and milkweed. She recalled how there used to be thousands of Monarchs there every year, but now they are all gone due to the practice of spraying and killing off all of the milkweed growing along the vast network of irrigation canals in the area.
This is apparently being carried out by those in control of the water. She is afraid to say anything about it, so I looked for someone to help with this matter which has decimated this vast Monarch butterfly nursery

Reply
Visit us link
6/1/2021 06:34:54 pm

This is an important campaign. You guys are doing a great job. I hope you will continue to flourish.

Reply
Mahmudul Hasan link
7/3/2021 11:31:31 pm

Amazing blog, I'm very happy to read this blog. Basically, I know new many things to read this blog. I strongly believe that the blog delivers the best information to their audience.

Reply
Jennifer
7/7/2021 10:08:07 am

Can anyone take some of the caterpillars or milkweed seeds I have in GROSS ? ? ?

Reply
Trish Batten
4/17/2022 07:49:24 am

I would love to have some- I live by a small forest-
I would like both seeds- want my address?

Reply
Michelle link
9/24/2021 04:14:51 am

Great Article! Thank you for sharing this very informative post, and looking forward to the latest one.

Reply
Denise Kuritz
10/1/2021 05:51:27 pm

How long does it take to get seed packets to Pennsylvania once ordered ?

Reply
Cheryl SIERK
4/19/2022 02:54:12 pm

All the caterpillars I had (about 100) all died when they went to hang. Only one or two got to the chrysalis stag! No weed poison, no insecticide was around the plants! What could have happened? HELP

Reply
Shawn
7/23/2022 01:01:27 pm

Evidently, certain tropical strains of milkweed can harbor a parasite that can be harmful to the caterpillars.

Reply
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Nancy DeRosier
8/21/2022 02:54:43 pm

I live in a retirement center in downtown East Los Angeles. The name of the center is Hollenbeck Palms. The grounds are lush and green with various rare trees and plants. Some of the members have been looking into this very thing: saving the monarch butterflies. This is a wonderful idea and we would like to learn more.

Reply
Carol Vogel
8/31/2022 10:26:34 am

I have a butterfly plant that has dozens of monarch catapilars feeding on it. Will they cocoon on this plant?

Reply
Ridhi link
9/8/2022 01:16:14 am

Hey, Thanks for sharing this blog. It is really very informative and interesting. I loved itt !!
Please do keep posting content like this, it is really knowledgable.

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Rubel Faruk link
10/13/2022 08:57:19 am

hello.I have a butterfly plant that has dozens of monarch catapilars feeding on it. Will they cocoon on this plant?

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Calgary Landscaping link
10/17/2022 06:54:01 am

Great article. We be sure to share with our staff.

Reply
Patricia Tice link
11/1/2022 07:05:37 pm

I question the inclusion of Asclepias syriaca in this mix for a senior garden. It spreads by rhizomes, as you know, and can become aggressive and weedy. Why did you not use Asclepias incarnata? it is a well behaved plant, common to over 40 states. Otherwise I applaud your mix of species, some of which will do better on certain soils and some will do better on other soils.

Reply



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    Author

    Rebecca Chandler
    Garden Educator, Naturalist and Ethnobotanist

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NOTE: You can also receive FREE SEEDS by sending us a self-addressed stamped envelope to: 
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  • 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
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    • Our Partners
    • News
    • Testimonials
    • Irvin & Gladys
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