Senior Pollinator Garden Program

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. 

Stock image from adobe stock.

What is included in the seed packets?

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! 

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

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