Michelle Simpson, one of the Washington Park’s horticulturists and previously horticulturist for the Children’s Garden and pollinator garden at the Botanic Gardens, has received approval for a pollinator garden to be installed in the Mount Vernon Garden. The plan is to install mostly perennials and some annuals that attract all pollinators as a permanent feature of the garden.
Key to the success for such a garden is to avoid the use of chemicals since some of the insects bury into the ground as part of their life cycle. Michelle is working on eliminating the use of insecticides in the garden and ongoing help with weeding would help support her effort.
As a start, she’s planning soil preparation beginning this Wednesday, July 1, 2020 and welcomes volunteers to get things rolling. She would also like to find volunteers willing to make a regular commitment to the area. For volunteers interested in helping this Wednesday with the soil preparation, please:
~ Meet at the Maintenance Building (the large, old white building on the loop road in Washington Park near the recreation center) at 10 a.m. with garden tools, water, snacks, sunscreen, hats, etc. You’ll be using your garden tools to prep the soil and weed, so a soil knife (hori hori), a spade, and a shovel or rake would all be helpful.
~ Volunteer waivers will be supplied.
~ Work will stop at 2pm.
~ Contact Michelle Simpson directly about ongoing volunteering at the Mt Vernon Garden or donating to help the pollinator garden at (720) 695-2295 or Michelle.simpson@denvergov.org
