Free Flowers from HelioPower for Earth Day Events
Thousands of “Free Flowers for Earth Day" book marks will be distributed by HelioPower solar representatives at Earth Day community events starting Saturday, April 9.
The popular wildflower seeded book marks celebrate this year’s Earth Day Network theme, A Billion Acts of Green®. Earth day participants can plant their wildflowers and register their “Act of Green” on the Earth Day Network website.
The "Free Flowers for Earth Day" book marks will be available from HelioPower solar energy consultants at the following events:
Earth Day Network Information
In recognition of the power of millions of individual actions, Earth Day 2011 will be organized around A Billion Acts of Green®: Personal, organizational and corporate pledges to live and act sustainably. At over 45 million actions to date, A Billion Acts of Green® campaign – the largest environmental service campaign in the world – is steadily building commitments by individuals, corporations, and governments in honor of Earth Day. A Billion Acts of Green® inspires and rewards both simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that further the goal of measurably reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainability. The goal is to register one billion actions in advance of the Earth Summit in Rio in 2012.
A Billion Acts of Green® website quantifies acts of green through an easy-to-use online registration tool.
HelioPower encourages homeowners to go solar as your “Act of Green” and register it online by going to the Earth Day Network website.
Wildflower Growing 101 – How to Grow Your HelioPower Earth Day “Free Flowers”
Even if you’ve not been blessed with a green thumb, you can successfully grow wildflowers with a little guidance. The seed mix you’ll receive includes annuals and perennials that should thrive in California: Catchfly, English Daisy, Sweet Alyssum, Spurred Snapdragon, Corn Poppy, and Black Eyed Susan. Carefully follow the tips below, and you’ll be enjoying beautiful wildflowers in no time!
When to Plant
- Plant your seeds as soon as possible in April or wait until fall. If you plant in April be sure to water them. Fall plantings will take advantage of the winter rains to give you early spring blooms.
Before You Plant
- Eliminate unwanted vegetation and weeds from your planting site—one where something is already growing—reducing existing plants by at least 50 percent. Aggressive weeds can be killed with a general (preferably organic) herbicide, but otherwise tilling or plowing will be enough.
- Be sure your soil is up to the task. If you suspect it isn’t, do a soil test and add a low nitrogen fertilizer or organic matter.
- Loosen the soil by scraping or tilling it until it’s very compacted.
How to Plant
- Plant the seeded paper in the prepared soil, at a depth of about 1/4 inch. Don’t merely soak your seeds in water; they need to be planted in the ground.
- If you choose to supplement your seed paper with more wildflower seeds, follow the recommended planting rates. Minimum rates, suggested for prepared soil when adequate weed control will occur, are based on 60-70 seeds per square foot. Maximum rates, 120-140 seeds per square foot, are only are recommended when soil preparation and weed control aren’t possible…or you want maximum color.
“Care and Feeding”
- Be sure your seeds get enough moisture, especially during the first four to six weeks. Water them if rainfall won’t be adequate.
- Provide ongoing weed control, something that’s crucial for good establishment during the first year.
- Evaluate the site regularly to see if spot seeding, weeding or additional watering are necessary.
While perennials don’t normally bloom the first year, your annuals will. Get ready to enjoy your own beautiful wildflowers year after year once you’ve provided them with a solid “foundation.”
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