Pollinator Marketplace Encourages Biodiverse Gardens & Lawns

DULUTH, Minn. — Trying to beautify your garden? It might be of benefit to plant native plant species in your garden.

That’s what people were looking for on Saturday at the First United Methodist Church. Outside in the parking lot members of Duluth Monarch Buddies were ready to inform the public on what types of plants you can plant to attract more pollinators to your flower beds and gardens. The best part about pollinators flowers is that the pollinators will help maintain and regulate your garden for you. Plus the more space you decide to plant, the less space you’ll have to mow. Making our lawns more biodiverse.

“Flowering plants are really important, but especially ones that draw in any of the pollinators,” said long-time volunteer Amy Westbrooks. “From bees, moths, monarch butterflies, all butterflies, all moths. If they don’t have that, that’s their habitat, that’s their substance, and for monarchs, especially for milkweed, that’s where they lay their eggs. They can only lay them on milkweed.”

During this time of year, monarch butterflies start to return and lay their eggs in milkweed. Their migration season starts around August to September. Also in August, Duluth Monarch Buddies will have a self-guided monarch way station tour to view local community gardens and potentially see some butterflies before they take off for the winter.