Update - Eastern Region's Native Plant & Pollinator Gardens

By jan schultz on Mar 3, 2010

Our Eastern Region Native Plant & Pollinator Gardens add opportunities and significance.

The last progress report about the implementation of the Eastern Region's Native Plant & Pollinator Gardens (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ssrs/story?id=4306) celebrated that 30 gardens had been established in the region's 15 national forests/prairies. During the summer of 2009, the number of gardens increased to 50. Thanks to a very busy and productive few months. Eight of the gardens have been designated as Wildflower Viewing Areas; more information on this can be found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/eastern/index.shtml. A dozen native plant production areas have also been created within the units.

Recently, several of the Forest Native Plant & Pollinator Gardens were added to the People's Garden Initiative database (http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/?navid=PEOPLES_GARDEN). The Eastern Region has also initiated its Butterfly Checklist with the posting of the Chippewa National Forest (Minnesota) list at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wildlife/plants_botany. Lists for the butterflies of other Region 9's forests will follow.

Continued focus and growth of our native gardens will raise awareness of the plight of native plants and their pollinators. The gardens are designed to serve as convenient areas for education and outreach to people of all ages, reduce carbon footprints (via a decrease in mowing, watering, fertilizers, and pesticides), make our locally native plant seed more available in restoration efforts, as well as much more. Please join this endeavor.

Individual reports and Success Stories about these native gardens, by unit, can be located at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wildlife/plants_botany.