Rachel Sadon
Milkweed is a pollinator plant native to the District. (Photo by Liliang)
It’s not just free weed seeds to be found in the District. The city’s Department of Energy and Environment will be handing out packets of native plant seeds on Friday in an effort to keep up the habitats of butterflies, bees, and other native pollinators.
“Even a small backyard garden or balcony with the appropriate native plants can support pollinators that are necessary for healthy and diverse plant life in our city,” DDOE said in a statement.
DOEE staff will be at the following Metro stations from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday: Anacostia, Benning Road, Brookland, Cleveland Park, Columbia Heights, Congress Heights, Deanwood, Eastern Market, Foggy Bottom, Fort Totten, Minnesota Avenue, Potomac Avenue, and Takoma.
Native pollinator plants include common milkweed, giant sunflower, wild bergamot, and early goldenrod, among many others. But DDOE also warns against picking up any old packet of seeds that are advertised as pollinator plants at the gardening store; many of them are invasive in the District, including wisteria, periwinkle, Spanish blue. See here for DDOE’s full list of both native and invasive pollinator species.
Now to learn how exactly to maintain that garden, check out one of DPR’s many free summer gardening classes.
