Convert Unsightly Vacant Lots in Reno to Pollinator Art Garden Walking Tours
The City of Reno currently has hundreds of vacant lots being managed on city budget. We are working to create a beautiful and creative use for these properties… a city wide pollinator corridor with native, USDA Certified organic flowers, trees & shrubs as well as one unique art sculpture for each park! (Yes, there is a difference in USDA Certified organic flowers versus the conventionally grown flowers laced with bee killing pesticides) Reno is Art Town and these beautiful art gardens will continue to add flavor, style and passion to once vacated and unsightly parts of the city. These Art gardens do not require huge budgets to maintain as they are designed to be self sustaining.
Why Art Garden Walking Tours in Reno?
Eco tourism is one of the fastest growing segments in tourism. These pollinator corridors will create beautiful spaces that protect habitat for native pollinators as well as add interest to otherwise blighted areas within the city. At each of these mini parks, we would like to feature one sculpture piece along with signage educating public on organic land management practices as well as listing the sponsors and supporters of this collaborative project. Tourist attractions in the US generate millions of dollars per year for local economies. Out of all the top attractions in the US, over 80% of them are state parks, open spaces and gardens.
Eco tourism generates over, $900 BILLION annually and is the fastest growing segment in tourism. Over 90% of American tourists expect active protection of environment in the cities they visit. source responsibletravel.org
From empty, trash filled vacant lots too beautiful art pieces that create a sense of community for humans and pollinators alike.
Currently, the City of Reno has over a thousand vacant lots, hundreds are available to buy or lease. We would love to see the city and/or a large organization manage these eco-toursim parks. Who could you recommend that could help get this dream of the ground? We have spoken with several leaders in our community all of which were excited about the idea. We need further guidance on how best to achieve this.
We have organic landscape designers, architects and land planners within the group who have years of experience in creating self sustaining and eye catching designs that ensure minimal maintenance, water and pest management. A healthy eco system requires up to 90% less water than a conventional (conventional = use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) managed pieces of land.
With a little elbow grease and common sense, we could really create something special to add to the thriving art scene in Reno.
Would you like to Bee a part of this beeYoutiful project for Reno? Call Sandy Rowley at 775 453 6120 or email her sandy @ bee habitat . com We need sculptures, gardeners, marketers and any other do’ers you can think of. 🙂
A BIG THANK YOU to local Bronze Artist Mischell Riley for donating a beautiful sculpture for one of the art gardens in Reno!
*Remember to buy certified organic seeds & plants to help save our bees & pollinators. Learn more on how seeds & plants, even pollinator friendly plants are killing bees: http://www.foe.org/system/storage/877/60/a/3130/Gardeners_beware_report_8-13-13_final_updated.pdf
View sculptures and pollinator friendly flowers, trees and shrubs for our local area in Reno Nevada : https://www.pinterest.com/savethebeesnow/pollinator-sculpture-parks/
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall. Cutting flower garden. Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus with Cosmos
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
We would like to partner with local artists, organizations and the city to create a vibrant eco attraction that benefits nature and people by putting to good use, vacant lots, artistic talent and the ingenuity of devoted and passionate members of our community.
The following people have voiced their support, excitement and devotion to help make this project a success.
Naomi Duerr – Reno City Council
Christine Fey – Reno City Arts
Mischell Riley – Bronze Artist
Lori Miles, SR/WA Property Program Technician/Public Works
Jana Vanderhaar – Landscape Architect Verdant Connections
Michelle Hunt – US Fish & Wildlife
Gwen Bourne – Galena Visitor Center & Great Basin Institute
Mellissa Gilbert – Wild Honey Home Arts
Gina Russo – Permaculture & Organic Educator
Beyond Pesticides – National Non Profit
Barbara Rainey – Pollinator supporter
Ann and Curt Yow – Local wildlife advocates
Joel Lippart – Local organic garden and pollinator enthusiast
Linda Allison – Local organic land care specialist
Jill Marlene – Local vocalist, artists and advocate for the bees
Pat Campbell-Cozzi – Owner of Wildflower Village and local Pollinator Habitat
Diego Hernandez-Chavarin – Local organic land care
Mary Macdonald – Local artist and pollinator advocate
Jessica Williams – Local apiary/pollinator landscape designer
Daniela Sonnino – KOH Radio Host
View more city parks and sculptures from around the world as well as plants that are suitable to our environment here: https://www.pinterest.com/savethebeesnow/pollinator-sculpture-parks/
RESOURCES
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GAPU
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5306468.pdf
Sandy Rowley