Bloomin’ for Butterflies

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Seasons Garden Center in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (on the New Jersey border, just outside of Trenton), turned a back garage into The Studio at Seasons Garden Center, an educational classroom that offers 35 to 40 classes on gardening, floral design, fine arts and healthy living.

During this year’s Pollinator Week the last week of June, the IGC hosted the Bloomin’ for Butterflies container gardening workshop, with master gardener Kelly Thompson. — Emily Mills

1. The two-hour family-friendly workshop on June 25 was $145, with preregistration required. A total of seven container gardens were created, with groups of two or three working on some of them.

2. “It really encompasses everything about the pollinators. Not just planting a pretty planter that attracts pollinators, we want to sustain them,” said educational coordinator Deborah Pomroy.

3. The plant material included Asclepias tuberosa, Echibeckia Summerina Blazing Fire, petunia Vista Bubblegum, salvia Rhea Blue, lantana and bronze fennel.

4. Each participant received a 10% off coupon for the garden center. Seasons carried the pollinator theme onto the sales floor, featuring plants that attract pollinators, as well as using its end caps to highlight its pollinator classes. The IGC saw an uptick in pollinator-friendly plant sales.

5. The IGC marketed the event on its website; through email, Facebook and Instagram; on physical cards handed out at the register; and on a board in the garden center listing all its classes.

6. The program cost included a large whiskey barrel planter, all the plants and education on pollinators, including a visit to the IGC’s educational garden, handouts on planting pollinator friendly gardens and a list of native pollinator plants arranged by bloom time.

7. This was the second year for the Bloomin’ for Butterflies class, and Seasons plans to continue to offer it every year.

Photos courtesy of Seasons Garden Center