A vibrant pollinator garden blooms at Golden Horizons Assisted Living facility in Worthington, thanks to Nobles County Master Gardener volunteer Heather Raverty.
Working as a software tester by day, Raverty has transformed an underused space into a source of joy for residents and a haven for local pollinators.
“Gardening fills my cup. I love playing in the dirt,” says Raverty, who grew up surrounded by gardens that provided food for her family. This lifelong passion took on new meaning during the COVID-19 pandemic, when grocery shortages highlighted the importance of local food resources.
“At that time, I started to think more about how having a community garden locally would be beneficial for everyone,” Raverty explains. This realization led her to join the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program in 2021, when she completed the coursework and fulfilled the required 50 hours of volunteer time.
Blooms that brighten spirits
The pollinator garden project began when Raverty’s husband, who works in physical therapy at various care facilities, connected her with Golden Horizons. What started as a simple garden has blossomed into something much more meaningful.
“It’s beautiful. Residents sit out there on Sundays with their family members to talk about the garden and its visitors — hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, bees,” Raverty shares.
The garden has become a therapeutic space for many residents, including one man who found solace there after losing his wife.
“He was out there almost every day. I’d talk to him every time he visited. He loved the garden,” she recalls. “He made a habit of cutting flowers and bringing bouquets to people who couldn’t get out.”
Whether it’s a pollinator garden or a community garden or getting into a school, it just starts with a message or a phone call.
A “pollinator’s café”
The garden features native plants, such as butterfly weed, yarrow, and coneflower, which attract a variety of pollinators. Raverty tracks which plants attract the most visitors and replants successful varieties.
While primarily focused on pollinators, Raverty also incorporates vegetables based on residents’ requests. Sometimes, they bring their home-grown tomatoes and cucumbers to the facility’s kitchen, where they prepare fresh side dishes and share their harvest with other residents.
The project’s success has inspired residents to start their own container gardens. “Once I started that project, people started coming in with planters and potting soil, and starting their own plants. It’s really kind of exploded, just because we started the initiative,” Raverty says.
For those considering similar volunteer work, Raverty offers simple advice: “Just start something. Start somewhere, start with an email or phone call. Once you start, it gets a ball in motion. People can psych themselves out.”
She believes her project can be replicated almost anywhere. “Whether it’s a pollinator garden or a community garden or getting into a school, it just starts with a message or a phone call. People need people who are willing to do it.”
Heather’s picks: Blooms that attract humans and pollinators
“These flowers do a great job of attracting pollinators while also adding color variety to the garden,” Heather says. Her favorites include:
- Yarrow: Recommended as a nectar plant for adult butterflies.
- Purple Coneflower: Provides vivid hues and food for butterflies.
- Butterfly Weed: For attracting monarch butterflies specifically.
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