#FalmouthMaine! Saturday, May 10th! Pollinator Parade Celebrates 10 Years!

by Molly Woodring, May 7, 2025

"Local families, including pollinator enthusiasts of all ages, will gather at #MaineAudubon’s #GilslandFarm on Saturday, May 10, 10 am to 1 pm, for the 10th annual Pollinator Parade and Picnic, to honor the winged species essential to our #ecosystems.

"Since 2015, Birth Roots and Maine Audubon have partnered to raise awareness about the vulnerability of the pollinator species that are critical to ecosystem health and our food systems, and the ways that people can support pollinator habitat. Many pollinator populations are in decline, and Pollinator Parade addresses this serious concern with a dose of family-friendly whimsy: families dressed as Monarch Butterflies can play and celebrate together, and then take home a milkweed plant that will support the real Monarchs due to arrive in Maine later this summer. That’s hundreds of new native plants spread across the landscape and even more photos shared that feature adorable costumes and a call to action, all before naptime.

"The event is inspired by festivals that honor the Monarch’s arrival in Mexico each fall, at the southern tip of the 3,000 mile migration that butterflies have completed annually for an estimated 20,000 years. The colorful parade, which starts at 11:30 am, invites young children, parents, and grandparents to embody a myriad of beautiful bugs, birds, and flowers—while calling attention to the urgent need for habitat protection and restoration.

" 'The #PollinatorParade is more than a picnic, parade, or dance party—it’s a call to action,' says Leah Deragon, Birth Roots’ co-founder and Director of Mission and Impact. 'We hope to capture the public’s imagination and inspire hearts and minds to take steps toward preserving pollinators for our grandchildren’s grandchildren.'

"Organizers aim to generate more substantive conversations about policies and the everyday actions people can take to care for pollinators—from planting #NativeSpecies and pollinator-friendly gardening, to reducing #pesticide use.

"This festival is one of hundreds like it nationwide, a growing movement since the late ‘90s to recognize and prioritize the role pollinators play to sustain all life.

"The Pollinator Parade is a ticketed event to buffer the impact on the Gilsland Farm #wildlife sanctuary during soft springtime soil. Gilsland Farm Audubon Center is located at 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth." [See below for registration link]

Source: https://maineaudubon.org/news/pollinator-parade-celebrates-10-years/

Registration link: http://www.hisawyer.com/birth-roots/schedules/activity-set/1386337

More info: https://maineaudubon.org/events/pollinator-parade-tenth-anniversary/

I went to dig up my garden bed and saw that it was the only place that had blooming wild strawberries and dandelions -- so no digging for now (until some other plants are blooming). I heard, but did not see, my first bumblebee of the season. I made sure the bee watering station was clean and ready to go!

The Green Centre: Increasing pollinator habitats in Brighton and Hove. "We can make Brighton and Hove the pollinator capital of the UK!"
https://www.thegreencentre.co.uk/media/1198/factsheet-n-w-fly-wild-garden-calendar.pdf
#BrightonAndHove #Brighton #ReWilding #SolarPunkSunday
#GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForWildlife #Volunteers #Volunteer #Volunteering

"The Wild Flower Conservation Society was born from the vital need to bring a diverse range of wildlife back to our treasured countryside spaces. When Stanmer Nurseries closed in 2018, a group of volunteers formed the Wild Flower Conservation Society." https://www.wildflowerconservationsociety.com/volunteer #ReWilding #SolarPunkSunday
#GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForWildlife #Volunteers #Volunteer #Volunteering

#Virginia - #NativePlants guide!

Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora

https://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=3281&search=Search

#PlantNativeSpecies #NativePlants #SolarPunkSunday #Rewilding #ReclaimingSpaces
#GardeningForPollinators #Gardening

Unfortunately, they are no longer able to ship to Canada.

Distributing FREE #HeirloomSeeds to the public.

"Encouraging #Sustainability, #SelfReliance & #SpeciesPreservation"

Your donations & support make this possible!

"We should be able to ship to the following countries without restriction
we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information as your country can change it's rules anytime.

"Please be sure to verify & comply with the importation rules of your country before requesting

Bahamas
Bermuda
Iceland
Norway

"Other countries will likely require at least a phytosanitary certificate to import seeds. Envelopes will be marked as having seeds in them & will likely be rejected at the border if your country is not on this list."

https://freeheirloomseeds.org/

I came across this website from one of the #GuerillaGardening articles I posted earlier. Some good stuff!

Shop Native Plants by State

"Find the perfect native plants for your region! We offer a wide selection of native flora for the 48 continental U.S. states and Washington D.C. Explore our curated collections tailored to your state's unique ecosystem. We're actively expanding our offerings nationwide, so check back often! Browse by state below and bring the beauty of native plants to your garden."

https://gardenforwildlife.com/pages/shop-native-plants-by-state

#PlantNativeSpecies #NativePlants #SolarPunkSunday #Rewilding #ReclaimingSpaces
#GardeningForPollinators #Gardening

This article includes some history of #GuerillaGardening -- including that of #JohnnyAppleseed (who was a real person)!

The Ultimate Guide To Guerrilla Gardening

by Elisabeth Beauchamp, April 10, 2025

"If you’ve ever seen wildflowers sprouting out of cracks in an abandoned parking lot, you might’ve witnessed the results of guerrilla gardening. Guerrilla gardening is a planting technique used by gardeners around the world to fulfill various intentions. No matter what, it involves growing plants or crops on land owned by someone else.

"It can be used as a political statement or simply to fulfill the desire to beautify one’s neighborhood. Guerrilla gardening has become a popular method of community revitalization worldwide. In fact, it might be happening right under your feet. If you’re interested in beautifying outdoor spaces in your city, keep reading to learn more..."

https://todayshomeowner.com/lawn-garden/guides/ultimate-guide-to-guerilla-gardening/

#UK - #GuerillaGardening: how you can make your local area greener without getting into trouble

Published: October 4, 2023

Excerpt: "Can you be prosecuted?

"It’s important to remember that much of the unused or abandoned land that is potentially suitable for guerilla gardening in towns and cities throughout the UK is owned by local councils. Common examples of such locations include broken pavements with missing slabs, wasteland and the central areas of roundabouts.

"Although much of this land is already open for the public to walk over, actively gardening on it would become an act of trespass.

"The law of trespass sounds scary. However, gardening on this land would be a breach of civil law rather than a crime. This means that most guerrilla gardeners are unlikely to receive a fine or a criminal record.

"Landowners do have the legal right to use 'reasonable force' to remove trespassers from their land. But, fortunately, it seems most councils have ignored guerrilla gardeners, having neither the time, money or inclination to bring legal action against them.

"Colchester Council, for example, were unable to track down the identity of the '#HumanShrub', a mysterious #EcoActivist who restored the flowers in the city’s abandoned plant containers in 2009. The shrub returned again in 2015 and sent a gift of seeds to a local councillor.

"In other areas of the UK, the work of guerilla gardeners has been cautiously welcomed by local councils. In Salford, a city in Greater Manchester, there is a formal requirement to submit an application and obtain permission to grow on vacant spots in the city. But the local authority tends not to interfere with illegal grow sites.

"There seems to be an unwritten acceptance that people can garden wherever they want, given the abundance of available space and the lack of active maintenance. This also offers the additional advantage of saving both time and money for the local council.

"You should still be careful about where you trespass though. In some areas, guerrilla gardening can lead to unwelcome attention. During the #MayDayRiots of 2000, for example, guerrilla gardeners were accused of planting #cannabis seeds in central #London’s #ParliamentSquare.

"Gardening at night may draw the wrong attention too, particularly if you are carrying gardening tools that might be misunderstood by the police as threatening weapons."

Read more:
https://theconversation.com/guerilla-gardening-how-you-can-make-your-local-area-greener-without-getting-into-trouble-213037

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/NHZyu

International Sunflower Guerrila Gardening Day 1.5.25
https://www.guerrillagardening.org/ggsunflower.html
#Gardening #ReWilding #SolarPunkSunday
#GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForWildlife #Seed #ReclaimingSpaces #Seeds #Sunflowers

#GuerillaGardening : What Is It, and Should You Try It?

Jan 11, 2025 10:09 AM EST

"Who doesn’t need a bit more greenery in their lives? No one, if guerilla gardeners have anything to say about it. Whether activists, do-gooders, or just plain old lovers of beauty, guerilla gardeners have been sprucing up neglected corners of the world for quite some time. #JohnnyAppleseed, introducer of apple trees to many states in the US, was one of the OG guerilla gardeners (and yes, he was a real person).

"Despite what its name might imply—guerilla means 'little war' in Spanish—guerilla gardening has nothing to do with war or destruction, and everything to do with creation. So what exactly is this ironically titled type of gardening, and is it something you should consider doing in your own community?

What Is Guerilla Gardening?

"Essentially, guerilla gardening is the act of gardening (planting flowers, trees, fruits, vegetables, etc.) in areas where you are technically not authorized to do so. According to Sonya Shikhman, a lawyer at Bytensky Shikhman Barristers, 'many see it as environmental activism, bringing greenery into urban environments where traditional gardening may not be possible.'

"This form of gardening is often used to revamp empty lots and other less-than-appealing spaces and create areas that look beautiful and/or produce food for the community. Other aims and benefits include 'improving air quality, increasing biodiversity, and giving local residents a sense of ownership and pride,' Shikhman says."

Read more:
https://dengarden.com/gardening/guerilla-gardening-what-is-it-and-should-you-try-it

#Rewilding #SolarPunkSunday
#GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForWildlife #SeedBombs #ReclaimingSpaces

The Growing Popularity of #GuerillaGardening

Urban guerilla gardeners are taking direct action against the neglect of public spaces.

"What used to be something of a fringe activity with decidedly illicit undertones has quickly become a mainstream subject and activity. Guerilla gardening is being used to reclaim community spaces, rejuvenate urban areas, and encourage more connection with nature. It’s a phenomenon that gets more popular every year.

"Ever spotted some beautiful plants growing where you least expect them? There’s a good chance that what you've seen is the result of guerilla gardening. Whether it’s a political statement or an attempt to get closer to nature, guerilla gardeners are all around us. And they’re not going away.

[...]

"On the surface, guerilla gardening is very much against the law. It’s trespassing on someone else's property. Even if you’re making the property better, guerilla gardeners don’t have any legal right to do so.

"Seed bombing, where the guerilla gardeners pack seeds into a lump of moist soil or compost and throw those ‘seed grenades’ into otherwise inaccessible spaces, is also illegal. Even if you don’t step foot on the property, those seed bombs still class as trespass.

"However, guerilla gardening is a criminal activity that's often overlooked by the law. In this research study, based on a group of UK guerilla gardeners, the phrase ‘normalized law breaking’ is commonly used. The study argues that guerilla gardening is largely accepted, and perhaps even welcomed, even by local law enforcement. In LA, a guerilla gardener even managed to have the law changed, so that residents could garden on city property without a permit.

"And something is satisfying about that. When guerilla gardening can transform urban spaces, and beautify those urban sites that are otherwise grotesque and devoid of local wildlife, it’s hard to be critical of those that carry out their seed bombing and abandoned site transformations."

Read more:
https://gardenforwildlife.com/blogs/learning-center/guerilla-gardening-and-its-popularity-garden-for-wildlife

Yeah, I'm a little late, but I'm starting some flowers this week...

7 Must-Grow Flower Seeds To Start In March For A Heavenly Summer Garden

March is the perfect time to plant a wide variety of annual and perennial flowers that will fill your garden with color and interest from late spring into fall.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/flower-seeds-to-start-in-march
#Gardening #GardeningForPollinators #SolarPunkSunday #GrowingFlowers

via @rewildingmag
Is this the year you get rid of some or all of your lawn? Here are 5 methods to consider >>

https://www.rewildingmag.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-5-lawn-removal-methods/
#nolawns #rewilding #urbanrewilding #ecology #nature #gardening #SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators

Excerpt from "How to make a bee-friendly garden" [in the #UK]

#BBCGardenersWorld Magazine
Published: Tuesday, 31 May 2022

"Grow 'woolly' plants

Wool carder bees are one of the UK's largest #SolitaryBees , and they get their name from their practise of collecting hairs from plant leaves and stems, in order to build the cells within their nests. The plants you can grow to provide the 'wool' include #LambsEars (#Stachys) and #mullein (#Verbascum) species."

https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/how-to-make-a-bee-friendly-garden/
#UKGardens #GardeningForPollinators #GardeningForBees #SolarPunkSunday #BeeFriendlyGardens