Apalachicola Reserve Seeds a New Future for Native Plants

Training and Engagement Specialist Svetlana Vikhlyantseva with assistance from Reserve interns Faith Causey, Madi Meadows, and Julie-Anna Duffey created packets of seeds for the fall native pollinators program to supply Franklin County residents with native plant seeds through the seed library program.   

Developed in 2018 in conjunction with the Reserve’s Bay-Friendly Landscaping stewardship course, the seed library encourages Franklin County residents to plant native wildflowers that provide food for pollinators—birds, bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects, and to help spread knowledge about the important role insects and birds play in our ecosystem.

This season’s seed selection includes: Lanceleaf Tickseed Coreopsis lancelota, Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta, White Indigo Baptisia alba, Spotted Bee Balm Monarda punctata. The White Indigo seeds are harvested from the demonstration garden. 

The seed library is a partnership among Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Friends of the Reserve, the Franklin County Libraries, and the Apalachicola Municipal Library.