The National Pollinator Garden Network is encouraging consumers to plant pollinator-friendly gardens to support pollinator health within their landscapes and their greater community. The organization’s Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, inspired by a White House initiative, is to have one million pollinator gardens planted and registered by the end of 2017. Thanks to the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), the research arm of AmericanHort, garden centers can join the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge push for pollinator gardens by directing consumers to pollinator plants using specially designed point-of-purchase (POP) materials.
HRI donated in-kind design services to produce “Help Us Plant One Million Gardens” point-of-purchase (POP) materials, which can be printed on-demand through Garden Center Marketing. The colorful and educational marketing materials include hang tags, bench cards and a variety of sizes of banners all depicting pollinators and their favorite flowering plants.
“These pollinator POP materials are such an effective way to communicate with gardening customers on the need to support our nation’s pollinators,” says Diane Blazek, executive director of the National Garden Bureau, a founding member of the National Pollinator Garden Network. “Pollinator health has become an important cause and concern for consumers. These signs help them make the purchasing decisions that relate to and support their desire to build pollinator habitat.”
“Our industry’s retailers will play a key role in shoring up pollinator health in this country,” says AmericanHort’s Senior Vice President of Industry Advocacy and Research Craig Regelbrugge. “They are the link between what pollinators need in the way of food and shelter and the ability for people across this country to provide it. We’re making these signage options available at a low cost for garden centers in order for them to visibly spread the word about the importance of using pollinator plants.”
Available POP and Ordering
The POP materials are available on-demand through Garden Center Marketing, who, along with AmericanHort, took on the set up costs in order to provide the materials at the lowest possible cost to garden centers. Each full-color sign uses the message “Help Us Plant One Million Gardens” along with the depiction of a pollinator and a plant. Most signs also include a “Plant Something for Pollinators” message along with a directive to register one’s garden at MillionPollinatorGardens.org. All POP materials can be ordered online at www.gardencentermarketing.com/page/Pollinator-Garden-Challenge-Signage.
Registering Your Garden Center’s Garden
In addition to directing customers to pollinator plants, garden centers are encouraged to register their own on-site demonstration gardens for the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. It’s simple to do using one of two ways:
- Visit www.millionpollinatorgardens.org and register the garden, or
- Upload pictures of the garden to the mobile app GrowIt! using the hashtag #pollination.
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About the National Pollinator Garden Network: The National Pollinator Garden Network collectively represents nearly one million active gardeners and 15,000 schoolyard gardens. The Network is challenging the nation to reach the goal of one million additional pollinator gardens by the end of 2016. The Network will work to provide resources for individuals, community groups, government agencies and the garden industry to create more pollinator habitat through sustainable gardening practices and conservation efforts.
About AmericanHort: AmericanHort is the horticulture industry’s national trade organization, supporting nearly 16,000 member and affiliated businesses that include breeders, greenhouse and nursery growers, garden retailers, distributors, interior and exterior landscape professionals, florists, students, educators, researchers, and manufacturers. Our mission is to unite, promote, and advance the horticulture industry through advocacy, collaboration, connectivity, education, market development, and research. The association has offices in Columbus, Ohio, for administration and member services, and in Washington, DC, to facilitate government relations and research activities.
About National Garden Bureau: Founded in 1920, the National Garden Bureau is a non-profit organization whose mission is to disseminate basic instructions for backyard gardeners and those who want to garden, that will inspire them to spend more time outdoors, enjoying all nature has to offer.
About American Seed Trade Association: Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) represents over 700 companies involved in seed production, plant breeding and related industries in North America. ASTA is the leading voice of action in all matters concerning the development, marketing and movement of seed, associated products and services throughout the world.
ASTA’s broad membership offers varieties from alfalfa to zucchini and all production types including conventional, organic and biotech. They promote the development of better seed to produce better crops for a better quality of life.
About GrowIt!: GrowIt is a mobile app that connects gardener to gardener like never before. It helps you find plants and ideas that work well in your area by connecting you to photos, comments, and plant information for plants in the same area using geolocation. It is free to download and join and can be found on the iOS and Android platforms. More information can be found at www.growitmobile.com.
Source: The National Pollinator Garden Network
