Pollinator-friendly plant expos return to the Blue Ridge over Memorial Day weekend
Kids are picky eaters, even in the insect world. Kim Bailey, the owner of Milkweed Meadows Farm in Henderson County, knows this well.
“Some plants primarily provide nectar to attract adult pollinators to our gardens,” she explains. “Other species, known as host plants, are what pollinators need to reproduce. I call these the ‘baby food’ or ‘kids’ menu’ plants.”
Monarch caterpillars, for example, exclusively eat milkweed leaves. Without this food source, the orange-hued beauties can’t reproduce. Another crucial host plant is the pawpaw tree, which feeds the caterpillars of the zebra swallowtail butterfly. (Sadly, habitat loss and fragmentation — issues compounded by Hurricane Helene — have compromised local populations of both bugs.)
With this in mind, Bailey will bring a smorgasbord of pollinator-friendly plants to the 33rd Annual Garden Jubilee in downtown Hendersonville, held over Memorial Day weekend.
“I’ll be selling plants that attract and support pollinators, such as honeybees, native bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds,” she says. “… Many gardeners are seeking to include native plants that offer ecological benefits as well as add beauty to their landscapes.”
As one of Western North Carolina’s largest gardening shows, Garden Jubilee presents nearly 200 plant and craft vendors, plus workshops and lecture platforms; it attracts thousands of visitors to downtown Hendersonville on the holiday weekend at the cusp of summer. Event organizer Terrye Jacobs calls it a “beloved spring tradition.” (Among this year’s keynote speakers is celebrity guest Brie Arthur, aka “Brie the Plant Lady,” an author and popular YouTube personality.)
That same weekend, the Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society will offer its Annual Rose Exhibition at the North Carolina Arboretum. Hosted as a “multi-sensual floral experience” since 1998, this springtime soirée showcases more than 100 varieties of the storied bloom, including rare buds that’ll have rival gardening groups growing green with envy.
While beloved for their good looks, roses also play a vital role in supporting pollinators, says society president Christine Gum.
“The first thing folks always do when they spot a rose is tip their head down to inhale the fragrance,” she says. “The pollinators do the very same thing. They are attracted to the design, the color, and the fragrance of the rose in the garden.”
Society member Mary Wood seconds this, adding that bees and butterflies are especially drawn to rose varieties with fewer petals and open centers.
“Roses are a fantastic plant to grow,” she notes. “They are beautiful, have a long growing season, and smell amazing.”
The 33rd annual Garden Jubilee takes place Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 9am-5pm, in downtown Hendersonville. Free admission. See visithendersonvillenc.org/garden-jubilee for more information. Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society hosts The Annual Rose Exhibition Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 9am-5pm, at the North Carolina Arboretum (100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville). Cost is included with the regular Arboretum parking fee. See wncroses.com.