
Our environment is under attack by many challenges – urbanization, loss of native plants, runoff from surrounding properties, climate change, overuse of pesticides – just to name a few. Starting in our own backyard, deck, or patio, we can make a difference for a more sustainable landscape, fostering environmental stewardship with well-informed conservation practices, to increase food and shelter for wildlife as well as beautifying our surroundings.
In addition to gaining a greater appreciation for the natural world, you will learn how to transition your landscape into a wildlife friendly oasis by creating habitat that includes pollinator nutrition, larval host plants, nesting, sheltering, and overwintering of all kinds of wildlife. Informed ‘Garden Stewardship’ – picking the right native plants, methods of eliminating lawns and adding wild areas, use of permeable hardscaping, and composting – will improve the environment around you. Project ideas like pollinator islands, revamped foundation plantings, integrating meadows, citizen science, friendly beneficials, tree and shrub plantings, and lawn alternatives, will be covered and everyone will have access to the following handouts.