It's a pollinator party and plant sale combined

Carlton SWCD hosts one of the largest native plant sales in the region, and this year is no exception, with over 300 orders already. We are so proud of all the people actively creating important native habitats.

This year we are keeping the pollinator momentum going by combining the fifth annual native plant and seed pickup day with a new Pollinator Powerhouse event in June.

It will be the grand finale of national pollinator month and will run in conjunction with our plant pickup from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 28 at the Carlton County Transportation Department. Join us to celebrate a huge habitat win with our native plant sales. The event features local vendors, artwork, citizen science opportunities, Taco Del Norte food truck, and a pollinator coloring contest with drawings in two age categories: 7 and under, and 8-10 years old.

The coloring pages can be downloaded from our website and Facebook page, and participants may also stop by our office for a coloring sheet or look in next week’s Pine Knot. Winners will be announced July 9 and get a prize of local natural resources swag.

The Native Plant Kit and Seed Mix sale is live now through June 14. The plants and seed are supplied by Minnesota Native Landscapes, which helped us ensure that the kits are designed to be easy to plant and maintain. The kits provide a mix of show stopping blooms and plant heights to provide habitat and food for our local critters.

The Monarch, Pine Mulch, Rain Garden, Buckthorn Replacement, Lakeshore Stabilization, Songbird, Deer Resistant, Shade and Pollinator native plant kits each consist of six species that offer showstopping blooms spring through fall, totaling 36 plant plugs that cover about 150 square feet for $65 per kit.

Native seed mixes are $23 to $50.

New to the sale this year are our “Support our Pollinators” limited-edition T-shirts, featuring our state bee, the rusty patched bumblebee. Purchase shirts through our website or in person during the June 28 Pollinator Powerhouse event.

Do your part and plant pollinator habitat. Even the smallest garden helps our bees, birds, and butterflies. Native plant and seed mix orders are being taken through June 14 at http://www.carltonswcd.org/online-store with pickup June 28. Email [email protected], call 218-384-3891, or stop by the office at 808 Third Street in Carlton to order plants or seeds if you don’t have internet access.

Jenny Sherren is a community conservationist with Carlton SWCD, 808 Third St., Carlton. Contact her at 218-384-3891, ext.7, or [email protected].