Yarrow Is Easy to Grow for Pollinators and YOU!
Glendarragh's commitment to pollinator health is well established. Supporting pollinator habitat through the addition of thousands of lavender plants in Midcoast Maine was the first step, and now we are converting dormant hayfields into feeding grounds for bees, butterflies, and other insects that support pollination here and in our neighborhood. It's a way to be regenerative in our stewardship of the farmland that cultivates lavender year over year.
You can help pollinators closer to you! Our fields bloom long after the lavender harvest thanks to sowing yarrow, monarda, milkweed, queen Anne's lace and others into the fields. Yarrow is a favorite, however, for its ability to thrive coast to coast and for its long bloom times. Exactly how coastal this versatile plant can be is demonstrated here, in a video we captured while sea kayaking in Maine. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dci7iwDOZX5/
Perennial yarrow, or Achillea millefolium, blooms more than a foot above its fern-like foliage, sending white umbrels skyward. Blooms begin in Midcoast Maine in May and continue through October. As white flowers brown and die off, simply cut the darkened flowers, or harvest the seed heads and help the wind by scattering seed in sunny areas. We seeded directly into coarse, dry wood bark mulch and the yarrow seeds germinated within one season. We selected this photo so you can see exactly how coarse and nutrient-lacking soil is still one yarrow considers hospitable. It's why yarrow is a willing partner in the work to take dry, dusty corners of forgotten lots or areas and convert them to pollinator habitats.
Traditional uses of yarrow include crushing its leaves and using in oils blended into salves. Like lavender, yarrow has been used for its anti-inflammatory properties. Be warned, however: If you are allergic to any member of the daisy family, yarrow is not for you.
Sowing Instructions: Direct sow by tossing seed atop prepared soil, which has been weeded and is loosened with a trowel. Press lightly or allow a hose to do the work for you. Yarrow needs light to germinate, so don't bury the seeds under soil. The seeds you receive will do better if you place them in a freezer for one week prior to planting. Mature plants form a mass of fern-like foliage more than a foot wide. It is a perfect companion to driveways and sidewalks and anyplace you think a pollinator on a sunny commute may like to rest for some food.
Feed the bees. We are happy for your love of Glendarragh's all-natural products and your willingness to support pollinator habitats closer to you, wherever you may be!
