The Butterfly and BeeGAP committee chaired by Jeannie Geremia from the Garden Club of NJ (GCNJ) has inspired both Westfield garden clubs to participate in facilitating the organization of pollinator centers with local nurseries. Along with Geremia, the president of Rake and Hoe Garden Club worked to develop the signage and handouts this summer.
These signs will focus the public in an area of the nursery which will display special plants to create butterfly, bee and bird gardens. They specify which plants are host and nectar plants and even which time of year these animals will be seen using them so the gardener can plant for all seasons!
The creation of these pollinator centers at local nurseries with the help of garden clubs is a WIN/WIN situation. They educate the public on how they can help the struggling pollinators, it helps create functional and beautiful gardens for the homeowner and it helps the nurseries in providing this plant material. New Jersey is the first state to embrace these centers to help pollinators and will be, hopefully, a successful template for all states.
Merrilyn Crane, President of the Garden Club of Westfield and Diana Kazazis, President of the Rake and Hoe Garden Club of Westfield will be collaborating on approaching nurseries to spearhead this GCNJ program locally.
For more information, please contact Diana Kazazis at 908-654-8783.
(above) Diana Kazazis, President Rake & Hoe Garden Club.17
