Learn to build water-wise pollinator gardens with the Valley of the Moon Garden Club

Valley of the Moon Garden Club will offer tips at its June 2 event.|

The June 2 meeting of the Valley of the Moon Garden Club will feature a visual presentation on making beautiful flowering gardens as nectar sources for pollinators using minimal water, according to an announcement from the club. “Flower gardens needn’t be large, expansive places to be beneficial to nature or enjoyable for people,” club officials said. “Pots on a patio or a wildflower meadow all make a big contribution to pollinators. Water-wise techniques make it possible.”

The discussion will focus on types of pollinator plants - such as natives, cultivars, heirlooms, annuals and perennials - with photos and a list of best plants for pollinators. Gardening tips from Master Gardeners and tricks from old farmers will be peppered throughout the presentation by speaker Bonnie Brown. Brown is a 24-year Sonoma Valley organic gardener, has been president and VP of the Valley of the Moon Garden Club, and is co-manager of the Monarch Pollinator Garden, a public demonstration garden in Sonoma.

The meeting will be held Thursday, June 2, at Burlingame Hall, First Congregational Church, 252 W. Spain St. Meet and greet time is at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 7 p.m. Chairs are spaced and masks are by choice. Refreshments and a plant raffle follow the meeting. Garden club members are free and general public is $5.

“Having a swath of nectar gardens throughout Sonoma Valley and county, where butterflies, bees, birds and other pollinators can find food, shelter and nesting habitat will increase their ability to thrive,” concluded the announcement. “One third of all food and drink that humans consume must be pollinated by insects, which are in a steep decline because of pesticides and habitat loss. Every pollinator garden matters.”

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.