Pike Nurseries to give away 2 million ladybugs during weekend event (April 23-24)

Gardens everywhere are buzzing with more than just bursts of color and beautiful spring flora. With warm weather comes the return of many seasonal insects as well! Instead of trying to rid the yard of all these creepy-crawlies, there are actually some beneficial bugs that play an important role in keeping plants healthy and strong.

To celebrate of one of the most beloved of these “good” bugs, Pike Nurseries is hosting its annual Ladybug Weekend on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24 at all store locations! The garden center will give away 2 million ladybugs (one free 150-count packet per purchase) to arm customers with a little ladybug luck to keep gardens vibrant and well-balanced this season. Supplies are limited, so guests are encouraged to fly over to their local Pike Nurseries store early before their luck runs out! The garden center is also offering a FREE four-pack of color annuals for any families with children who come dressed in a ladybug costume (one four-pack per family; annual selection varies by store).

As part of the weekend event, Pike Nurseries is also hosting two complimentary “Beneficial Bugs” customer classes at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24 at all store locations. Guests will learn the difference between “good” and “bad” bugs, how certain insects (including ladybugs, praying mantis, hoverflies and more) can act as a form of organic pest control and how to attract these beneficial bugs to ensure their gardens are healthy and free of plant pests. There will even be fun ladybug coloring sheets available after each class for children to take home and enjoy!

Customers are also encouraged to build the ladybug buzz on social media over the weekend! Those who share photos of their ladybug release in the garden via Instagram or post photos on the Pike Nurseries Facebook page using the hashtag #PikeLadybugs will be entered to win a $100 Pike Nurseries garden gift card! Last day to enter is Sunday, April 23, and one lucky winner will be selected randomly.

In honor of this buzzworthy weekend, the experts at Pike Nurseries have released some ladybug fun facts to help horticulturists of all levels connect the dots between these little bugs and their big reputation in the gardening world!

• LadyBeetles: Ladybugs are actually members of the beetle family, so they are sometimes referred to as “LadyBeetles.”
• Ladybug Legend: Legend has it that the Ladybug got its name from European farmers in the Middle ages, whose crops were being devoured by damaging insects. To save their crops, the farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary. Soon, ladybugs appeared and ate all of the harmful insects! The farmers named these little insects “our Lady’s Beetles,” which eventually became “Ladybugs.”
• Lady Luck: Many countries consider a ladybug to be a sign of good luck.
• Beneficial Bugs: Because ladybugs are natural enemies of aphids and other pest insects, many gardeners and farmers use them for organic pest control instead of chemicals.  
• Little Bug, Big Appetite: A single ladybug may eat as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime!
• International Insects: Over 400 types of ladybugs live in North America, and over 4,500 in the world!
• Plain Jane: Different species of ladybugs have different numbers of spots, while others have no spots at all!
• Not Just Red: Ladybugs come in many colors, including pink, yellow, white, orange and black.
• Defense Mechanism: Ladybugs make a special chemical that smells and tastes bad, so predators won’t eat them. 

For more information on ladybugs, visit pikenursery.com/pages/connecting-the-dots-ladybug-fun-facts. For more information on Ladybug Weekend, visit bit.ly/PikeNurseries_LadybugWeekend16.

ABOUT PIKE NURSERIES

Ever committed to its customers’ gardening success, Pike Nurseries takes pride in taking the guesswork out of gardening. Offering superior knowledge, quality and selection in a friendly, caring environment, Pike Nurseries has been an Atlanta icon for over 50 years.  Founded in 1958 by Pete Pike, its ability to adapt to market conditions and community needs has made it a respected Southern institution.  As Atlanta’s oldest garden chain, Pike Nurseries has 16 retail locations in the Atlanta, Ga. and Charlotte, N.C. areas. Now led by CEO Mike Kunce, Pike Nurseries looks forward to continued growth as it keeps Atlanta and Charlotte beautiful, one landscape at a time.

For more information, please visit Pike Nurseries online at www.pikenursery.com.

Visit Pike Nurseries on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

# # #