Having your own pollinator garden is like having your own outdoor classroom. The life that native wildflowers attract to your yard is both breathtaking and an opportunity for young and old to connect with and learn about the natural world.
During my installations and maintenance visits I hope you and your family will want to learn about the plants and pollinators that you'll be helping. I will provide pictures and information about each of the species of wildflowers used in your planting in addition to insect ID guides to familiarize yourself with the pollinators you should expect to see.
I welcome the community to my public pollinator garden educationals held multiple times a year at pollinator gardens I have installed and to the annual fall monarch migration butterfly release held at the Monarch Waystation along the Black Mountain Greenway .
Want to learn about meadow ecology, native plants & pollinators? Contact me about joining me to help with garden maintenance or volunteer to assist with an installation at one of my current sites. You can email me directly or join the Monarch Waystations of Black Mountain Facebook group to learn about regular workdays and volunteer opportunities. There are typically two volunteer work days each week.
Wednesdays @ Karen Cragnolin Park in West Asheville
Fridays @ one of the Monarch Waystations in Black Mountain. Contact me for times and details.
2025 Pollinator Meadow Tour
Friday July 11th 9:30 am to 4pm
Saturday July 12th 9:30 to 11:30am
Join Emily Sampson, of Patchwork Meadows and Nathan Buchanan of Wildbud Natives, on a guided tour of the largest and most diverse meadows in the Asheville area. This will be an opportunity to observe native wildflowers, grasses and their pollinators and learn about meadow establishment and maintenance processes for these specific sites.
Email emily@patchwork meadows.com or text 828-545-6826 to find out about the meadow tour schedule.
Rearing Monarchs and other caterpillars that you find in your own garden can allow your family to experience the magic and beauty of transformation.
The first step is planting host plants for them to lay eggs.