What About Flowers? Secrets to Successful Reimbursements (SUFS)

Busy students learning about pollinators & host plants at the Albertus Cottage Wildflower Garden in Orange City, FL.

Planting flowers, specifically Florida natives, host plants (to host insect larvae), and nectar plants (for bees and butterflies), can provide an exciting outdoor classroom for your students!Florida is home to 180 native butterfly species and over 300 native bee species. Your young scientist can explore Florida's rich ecosystem by planting for bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.

---

THE BIG QUESTION!

If butterfly (pollinator) gardening is so educational, why do Step Up processors sometimes deny flowers? This happens when processors and parents disagree on whether a plant is ornamental or part of a pollinator or butterfly garden.

---

CHOOSE FLORIDA NATIVES! - it's a no-brainer!

Choose Florida native wildflowers for your child's garden!

• Attract pollinators 

• Adds to the beauty of the garden

• Improve soil health 

• Prevent erosion 

• Simple: no fertilizers or soil amendments needed!

• Improve water quality 

• Reduces water use (no irrigation needed once established)

• Provide food and shelter to native animals 

• Contribute to biodiversity

• Increases food production in the vegetable garden

• Provides your child natural opportunities to make 'curriculum connections'.

---

Resources for choosing native wildflowers for your area:

• North Florida

• Central Florida

• South Florida

The fantastic folks at the Florida Wildflower Foundation are an incredible resource for families looking to learn about Florida natives and their impact on the ecosystem. Their fascinating website has printables, kids activities, and curriculum that will help you on your journey!

---

CHOOSE NON-NATIVES WISELY

The challenge? Choosing beautiful non-native plants with a specific educational purpose that processors do not consider 'ornamental'.

Choose:

• Florida-friendly host plants that feed caterpillars

• Florida-friendly nectar plants that feed adult butterflies

Create a plan for your butterfly garden!

• Choose from the lists below

• Choose plants that flower at different times of the year

• Choose plants with different sizes adn colors of flwoers

• Plant 3-5 of each plant type

• Visit a local nursery for inspiration and gardening advice

• Plan on providing irrigation & fertilization if necessary

Click on the picture and scroll to the bottom of the website for a PDF printable of this picture. Submit this PDF when you submit your plants to Step Up for Students for reimbursement.

Click on the picture and scroll to the bottom of the website for a PDF printable of this picture. Submit this PDF when you submit your plants to Step Up for Students for reimbursement.

Click on the picture and scroll to the bottom of the website for a PDF printable of this picture. Submit this PDF when you submit your plants to Step Up for Students for reimbursement.

When you submit your flowers for reimbursement, upload the PDF of one of the pictures above.

Use the following wording (copy/paste): "My child is growing a pollinator/butterfly garden."

Upload the following curriculum:

The Florida Wildflower Foundation’s Wild About Wildflowers! Activity guide

---

TIPS for SUBMITTING CORRECTLY

STOP!

PLEASE check the FES-UA and FES-PEP Purchasing Guides before making large purchases!

Gardening supplies are submitted as:

Instructional Materials

 ➡️ Elective Supplies

 ➡️ Garden Supplies

---

KEEP READING!

For more help with Step For Students submissions and reimbursements, check out THESE ARTICLES written for you!

Join our Facebook page!