If you’d like to have flowers in your yard this year that support pollinators, sign up now for the seeds to get you started.
Open Space Preservation is offering a second round of free seed pickup for those who want to support pollinators by nurturing native plants.
Earlier this month, I shared information on OSPC’s invitation for the community is invited to participate in the 4th annual “Winter Sow” program.
Volunteers prepared seeds to share for 50 varieties of flowering native plants that are beneficial to native pollinators and 45 are still available. (Act quickly to reserve your top choices.)
Registration is open to order seeds by 4:00 pm this Friday, February 17th for pick up this Saturday.
You can find the list of offered plants with pictures and details here. To order free seeds, head to the the EventBrite page here and click on the “Reserve a Spot” button. (That will pull up Checkout form with a Seed Choice list, allowing you to check the boxes for the seeds you want to order.)
Participants will be able to pickup their seeds at a drive-through pickup at the Southborough Senior Center/Cordaville, 9 Cordaville Road. That’s on Saturday, February 18th from 2:00 – 3:00 pm.
The plants on offer have varying bloom times shown as ranging from March – October. All are native plants selected to provide the nourishment native pollinators need.
Most of the offered plants are shown as supporting the bumblebee species bombus fervidus and/or bombus vagans. Many also attract other native bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other birds, and/or native caterpillars.
To make use of the seeds, you’ll need to start collecting clear plastic gallon mil/water jugs (1 or 2 for each species you plan to order). OSPC will share details with participants to help them learn to properly sow the plants this winter for planting at the right time.
You can read more about the winter sow program and the OSPC’s long term initiative in my post on the first round of the program, here.
