Online Native Plant & Pollinator Resources
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Plant Finder
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Knowledge generates interest, and interest generates compassion.
-Douglas W. Tallamy, "Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens"
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Native plants numbered high among Becky Brower's passions. It led her to create SPL's In the Garden group to raise awareness and interest in Indiana's native plants.
Following Becky's passing in June 2023, In the Garden decided to create a special native plant garden in Syracuse Public Library's Community Roots outdoor space in her memory. This garden will continue Becky's mission: to educate and drive an appreciation for our native plants and pollinators. In the future, the library plans to use it for educational programs. |
Progress
Purple Coneflower, or Echinacea purpurea, is a native bloom that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds in addition to finches. 
Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa. It is a larval host for the Monarch and Queen butterflies. 
Coreopsis in bloom 
Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata. Milkweeds are an important food source for the monarch caterpillar. |
June 2024As summer rolls in several flowers within Becky's Garden have begun to bloom. Some have begun show signs of insect activity, which is to be expected!
We are trimming some flowers off to tell the plant to put more energy into root growth. |
Volunteers begin to plant native flowers in Becky's Garden.
Volunteers prep a space at the end of the garden for native Michigan lilies, also called Turk's caps.
Volunteers shift gravel from dirt.
Planting participants pose for the a photo together.
Even with the placement of leaves and cardboard, some weeding was needed before planting.
This volunteer preps a trench to place a brick border to help mowers avoid the garden.
Cathy places a stone that Becky Brower had collected during one of her adventures.
A memorial stone is placed for Becky Brower in the garden. Straw was placed as a mulch in the garden to help retain moisture as the plants get established.
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May 2024In the Garden and community members came together in Community Roots to plant Becky's Garden on May 23, 2024. Native plant donations came in from In the Garden members and from individuals within the community. Some plants also came from Becky's personal garden, courtesy of her husband Michael.
As the plants become established, the garden will fill out and look more beautiful each year. |
This close-up shows the state of leaves and compost after the passing of almost three months.
This shot of Becky's Garden was taken Jan. 25, 2024.
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January 2024Becky's Garden may appear to be inactive, but as winter storms come and go, the leaves, compost, and cardboard are gradually being broken down, adding nutrients into the soil. These components will also smother grass and weeds making for easier spring planting in May.
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After leaves are raked on the cardboard, nutrient-rich compost is added into the mix.
In the Garden members, from left, Michael Brower, Sarah Wright, Kay Pylant, Marta Cummings, and Emily Austin pose in front of the start of Becky's Garden.
Compost was added to the leaves in the garden to add nutrients.
Cardboard is placed for Becky's Garden by In the Garden members.
In the Garden members rake leaves to use on top of the cardboard layer.
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October 2023In October 2023, In the Garden group members laid the groundwork for Becky's Garden in Community Roots. This included laying cardboard before raking leaves on top of it. This material will break down over the winter, clearing the way for easy spring planting.
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Meet the Plants & Their Pollinators
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Coming SoonNOTE: We will coordinate planting efforts. Quite a few people have expressed interest to donate native plants to the garden (we've recorded your names), and we will try to fit in as many as possible, but please understand space is limited.
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Learning Activities
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Children can use this worksheet from the National Park Service to learn more about pollinators.
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Purdue University has created a virtual learning page for children to learn about flowers and pollinators.
Purdue Extension also has a handy PDF available, called "Recommend Indiana-native Plants for Attracting Pollinators," which is super helpful. |
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Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences has also put together a webpage, featuring helpful classroom activities for children of all ages. Click here to see available materials.
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The city of Bloomington, Ind., assembled a helpful guide for creating habitats for native mason bees. Click here to view the guide.
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