The Lookout Mountain Beautiful Garden Club received a $1,000 Plant America Community Grant, which was funded by the National Garden Clubs, Inc. With these funds, the garden club joined the local Bee City USA committee to beautify and plant a pollinator garden on the terraces beside the tennis courts at the Commons.
The terraces are each roughly 10 x 90 feet. This garden, along with three other established pollinator gardens located on Buck Stamps Road, Church of the Good Shepherd and Powell Park substantially increases native plant habitat for pollinator conservation on the mountain.
The garden was designed by Presidents Penny Simmons and Glynda Warren and Vice President Candace Wells. Working closely with Bee City USA Chairwomen Candace Wells and Ann Brown, native perennials and trees were selected to provide habitat for bees, butterflies, and birds. These plants on the first terrace, blooming throughout the seasons, will offer essential food, shelter, nesting sites and safe foraging areas for pollinators.
Pesticide free plants were purchased from Overhill Gardens, Reflection Riding, Crabtree Farms, and Tennessee Naturescapes.
Butterfly host plants are included so that the gardens can be designated as a Butterfly Garden and a Monarch Waystation. Leaf compost, and wood chips, available for free on the mountain, were used to enrich the soil for the plantings. The second terrace was planted with Hydrangeas, Arborvitaes, blubs, Hostas, and two Serviceberry trees.
Garden club members, including husbands and other family members, helped plant the garden in early October. Garden club members also donated Daylilies, Iris, Hostas, as well as benches and a birdbath, from their personal gardens. Plant stakes have been placed around to identify the plants, trees and shrubs.
For a complete plant list, email Ann Brown at brownw01@yahoo.com.
The garden club will maintain the “Pollinator-Friendly” landscape on the terraces. They are excited about Spring 2021, when the garden comes into full bloom and the pollinators discover a safe place to feed and create the next generation of bees and butterflies.