We provide the curious with information on planting natives, advocating for critters, developing pesticide free landscapes, and identifying invasive aliens. An equally essential part of our mission is to assist Mid-Atlantic region gardeners in locating native plant nurseries and plant sales. Gardeners have a choice when purchasing landscaping plants… we shout Choose Natives!
When I began my gardening journey, I planted what every other homeowner found at their local garden center. I’d vaguely heard about native plants but didn’t understand why I should choose them. It was only after hearing entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy speak that I learned I was doing it all wrong! I wasn’t supporting a single living thing with the introduced ornamental plants I was installing. Coddling lots of lawn didn’t help, either...
Gardeners, wildlife enthusiasts and backyard birdwatchers across the country will benefit from this lecture with professor and author, Doug Tallamy. Tallamy will deliver a talk for us titled, “Restoring the Little Things that Run the World.” Insects have already declined 45% since 1974. The alarming part of this statistic is that most people don’t appear to have noticed, despite the fact that a world without insects will be a world without humans! So, how do we create beautiful landscapes brimming with life – landscapes that support the butterflies, caterpillars, bees, beetles and other insects that run the ecosystems we depend on? Tallamy will remind us of the essential roles insects play, and describe the simple changes we must make in our landscapes and our attitudes to keep insects on the ground, in the air and yes, on our plants.