How to Create a #PollinatorGarden with Children: Fun Family Activities to Attract Pollinators and Foster a #LoveForNature

by Chloe Wilson, February 12, 2025·

Excerpt: "Another fantastic idea is to create a 'pollinator parade.' Have your children dress up as their favorite pollinators, and then march around the garden! They can flap their arms like butterflies or buzz like bees. This playful activity not only entertains but also helps them remember the importance of these creatures.

"You can incorporate storytelling activities by making up tales about the flowers and the pollinators that visit them. Kids can act out these stories, which fosters their imagination and creativity. This can be a wonderful bonding experience for the whole family.

"Don’t forget about seasonal activities. In spring, you can plant seeds together. In summer, observe which flowers attract the most bees. In fall, collect seeds from your flowers to plant next year. This creates a year-round learning experience that keeps kids engaged in nature."

Read more:
https://www.kidsandthegarden.com/articles/pollinator-garden-kids-activities/

#SolarPunkSunday #SpendTimeOutdoors #SpendTimeInNature #NatureBasedLearning #KidsActivities #GardeningForPollinators #Storytelling #Nature

Bird feeders will be going away soon, and the decorative poles will become plant hangers. I forgot to start nasturtium plants, so I'll pick some of those up from one of the local farmers. I've got cosmos, zinnias and marigolds going, and then all the wildflowers I already seeded last fall, as well as ones I'll be sowing soon. We had a lot of bee visitors last year, so I hope to repeat that this year.

#GardeningForPollinators

#TrescottME - #Scionwood Exchange & #SeedSwap

April 11 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

In partnership with #HealthyAcadia and #MOFGA

#CobscookInstitute
10 Commissary Point Rd
Township of Trescott, ME 04652

All Ages
Free (or by donation)

"This by donation event will feature seeds for swapping and scionwood for grafting. We are also accepting seed donations for use in Cobscook Institute’s #CommunityGarden.

Seed Swap

Please bring seeds you’ve saved with descriptions for folks to share, trade and enjoy. We are also accepting seed donations for the Community Garden.

Envelopes and labeling materials will be available.

Scionwood Exchange

Many Scions will be available for sharing with descriptions and instructions. Please feel welcome to bring scionwood that you responsibly collected to share as well, with the apple variety and description. Labeling materials and bags will be provided."

Event page:
https://cobscookinstitute.org/events?e=4-11-2026-scion-exchange-and-seed-swap&m=

#SolarPunkSunday #SeedExchange #ScionExchange #MaineEvents
#GrowYourOwn #GrowYourOwnFood
#GardeningForPollinators

#CamdenME - #SeedStarting Workshop

#MerryspringNatureCenter
April 4 @ 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

"Have you wanted to grow plants from seed but were not sure how to do it? This hands-on workshop will teach you how to work with different sized seeds, what materials you might need, and seed treatments. Saving your own seeds and testing their germination rates will be discussed.

"Following a step by step slide show, each participant will plant one flat of 6 six-packs in Merryspring’s Greenhouse to take home. You can choose flowers, vegetables, and herbs from seeds provided. Merryspring Program Director John Fromer will offer many pro tips and answer any questions. Fromer, a Maine Master Gardener Volunteer and professional grower has raised tens of thousands of seedlings over forty years.

"Meet in the Ross Visitors Center

"Pre-registration is required. Limit 10 people. Cost is $35 non-members, $30 for Merryspring members including materials. To register, please call 207-235-2239 by Wednesday, April 15th. Registration fee non-refundable.

"Merryspring is your community nature center offering walking trails, cultivated gardens, wildlife, and ecology and horticulture educational programs all year round. The park is located at the end of Conway Road, just off of Route 1 in Camden behind Hannaford Shopping Plaza."

FMI and to register:
https://merryspring.org/calendar/seed-starting-workshop/

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineEvents #Midcoast #Maine #Merryspring #GYO #GardeningForPollinators #GrowYourOwnFood #GardeningWorkshops

#RockportME - #PollinatorFriendly Vs. #Ornamental Flowers

April 8 @ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
#RockportPublicLibrary

"#Birds, #bats, #bees, #butterflies, #beetles, and other small mammals are integral pollinators whose natural activities sustain our ecosystems. However, many people fill their gardens with over-hybridized plant varieties that have been bred for their ornamental value. #DoubleBlooms, exotic species, and other engineered qualities — while pretty — create plants that are difficult for all pollinators and can be detrimental to local habitats when cultivated in large numbers (like pollenless sunflowers).

"Maine Master Gardener Volunteer #JohnFromer will discuss varieties of flowering plants that are both beautiful and valuable to our local pollinators, give examples of non-pollinator friendly flowers, and provide tips for growing these in the #Midcoast region.

"This talk is part of the Rockport Library’s Spring Horticulture Series in partnership with Merryspring Nature Center."

FMI:
https://www.rockportlibrary.net/event/pollinator-friendly-vs-ornamental-flowers/

#SolarPunkSunday #LibrariesRule #MidcoastMaine #GardeningForPollinators #HorticultureLecture #MaineEvents

#PortlandME - Posting for an early #SolarPunkSunday (event is Saturday, March 21st).

#KitchenGarden #SeedSwap

Mar 21 2026 Sat
Saturday, March 21, 2026
11:00am–12:00pm

Program Type: Other
Age Group: Adults (Ages 19+)

Event Details

"Calling all seed harvesters and kitchen gardeners! Join us at the #RivertonBranch for our first annual Kitchen Garden Seed Swap. Arrive with any labeled* seeds you'd like to share with your fellow gardeners and leave with what others bring to share. Come for the seeds, stay for the conversation (which we hope will be full of neighbor-to-neighbor tips for beginners and advanced gardeners and seed harvesters alike)!

*Please feel free to drop by the Riverton Branch any time we're open to pick up empty seed packets to fill with your own seeds before bringing them to the swap. If you use your own packets, please make sure to include the following information:

- Seed Type
- Date Collected
- Growing Notes (optional)
- Your name or initials (optional)

Also welcome at the swap are any seed-starting or gardening supplies in good condition that you would like to re-home. Any items left over at the end of the swap will be considered for our #LibraryOfThings or donated.

Leftover seeds will be used to seed our new Riverton Branch Seed Library."

Source:
https://portlandme.librarycalendar.com/event/kitchen-garden-seed-swap-9960

#MaineLibraries #SeedSwaps #BuildingCommunity #PortlandPublicLibrary #PPL #RivertonBranch #SeedLibraries #GardeningForPollinators #SeedExchange #SwapDontBuy #CircularEconomy #GardenToolsSwap

Spring is in the air... I can't wait to see how my #Wildflower and #NativeGrass experiments pan out. I managed to get them sown at the right time. Now I'll have to make sure I water the spots once the snow melts.

#SolarPunkSunday #WildflowerMeadow #GardeningForPollinators

March Is Your Last Chance to #Prune These 8 Plants – Miss the Window and You’ll Get Fewer Flowers

March is the last time you will get to prune these plants before they break dormancy. Prune now to enjoy better growth this spring and summer.

By Mary Ellen Ellis

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/plants-to-prune-in-march

#SolarPunkSunday #Gardening #Pruning #Roses #Hydrangea #ButterflyBush #Dogwoods #GardeningForPollinators #PlantMaintenance

Virtual Event - #NewEngland - Which #NativePlants Help #Wildlife? The Science Behind Informed Plant Selection

Thu Mar 12, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EDT

"You’re ready to plant more native species in your garden to support wildlife. As you start to plan, you might have a few questions. Which plant species make the biggest difference? Does it matter if a plant is a cultivar? How important is local ecotype? Which plant traits attract which #pollinator?

In this talk, Desirée L. Narango, Ph.D., from the #Vermont Center for #Ecostudies, will share research that evaluates how different native plant species and characteristics influence interactions with pollinators and songbirds. Drawing from her research and that of other experts in the field, she will explore what we know (and still don’t know) about common questions in #EcologicalGardening. The talk will also highlight ways you can contribute data through community science and help improve the information available for wildlife-friendly planting decisions.

This event is co-hosted by #WildSeedProject and #MOFGA. The webinar will be recorded, and a recording will be shared with registrants within a few days of the event taking place.

Registration info: This event’s sliding scale registration is designed to keep the class as accessible as possible while also covering MOFGA’s and Wild Seed Project's costs. Recommended price for non-members is $15; recommended price for members is $10.

Scholarship funds are available to community members in order to increase program accessibility, and participants in MOFGA’s Journeyperson program are welcome to register at no-cost. You’re welcome to use the fund by checking “Scholarship/JP” at checkout. For any questions about scholarship funds, please email [email protected]."

To register:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/testorg8/2045541?trackingConsent=1

#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForWildlife #NativePlantSpecies #NativePlantWorkshops

Garden For Wildlife via @wellingboroughecogroup

Gardening for wildlife is probably the easiest way to garden, and is possibly the best thing that you can do for animals. It’s also something that we can all do in our gardens, and if you have one, in our allotments too.

Excerpt: "Making our gardens wildlife friendly doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to leave them to grow into wild jungles. Every space, whether it’s a huge estate or a busy family garden, can give a home to nature.

"There are lots of simple things we can do to help the animals we share a space with, from making sure that they have access to different habitats, to nurturing well stocked feeding grounds for them. With a little imagination, it’s easy to create a recipe in your garden that works for wildlife.

"Imagine that your garden is a hotel and that it has to offer:

- A friendly welcome for all creatures.
- A pool
- A Nectar Bar open all year round
- A Restaurant where all diets are catered for
- Is open to non residents
- Accommodates short breaks and long stay
- There’s no booking required.

"To create your garden hotel, the traditional recipe for gardening for wildlife needs a few more ingredients. The essentials to bear in mind are the same essentials that we all need; somewhere to live and something to eat and drink; but the secret to success is to consider what needs wildlife has and how to fulfill them."

Learn more:
https://wellingboroughecogroup.org.uk/eco/how-to/garden-for-wildlife/

#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForWildlife #Wildlife #RewildYourGarden #GardenHotels #Nature #WildlifeCorridors #Gardening #GardeningForPollinators