Space is limited. To register, please email corriewds@gmail.com
Cost: This is a free community event, but contributions are welcome. Light refreshments will also be served.
Join the Gardening for Life Project for the first installment of the Habitatscaping™ speaker series! More Habitat, Less Lawn: Getting Started with ReWilding Your Yard will be an entertaining and inspirational presentation by one of the most passionate naturalists in our region, Sharon Mammoser. Sharon is a regular contributor to ConservingCarolina.org, a Blue Ghost Firefly Tour Host, a talented photographer, a Habitatscaping™ expert and so much more! In the United States, more than 40 million acres of land is turf grass. The fastest way to destroy an ecosystem is to transform it into lawn/turf grass—an outdated, expensive practice that creates a massive monoculture. Yet every summer, millions of people spend millions of dollars, and thousands of hours maintaining this monoculture.
What if I told you there was another way– a way to keep some of your green space, but still welcome wildlife? If we stop long enough to consider the impact this practice has on our Earth, we might change. If we understand how birds are connected to insects and insects to native plants, we might change. If we realize the ecological services habitat provides–like oxygen, clean water, flowering plants courtesy of pollinators– we might change. Most of all, if we understood that we are a part of nature, rather than separated from it, we might change.
In this program, we’ll explore some ways to make your yards more wildlife friendly, starting with the creation of habitat islands in your lawn. We’ll discuss the caterpillar/bird connection, define some common garden terms, talk about keystone plants and soft landings, look at the needs of some of our local species of butterflies, moths, and other pollinators, and learn how simple changes in the way you maintain your space can have a giant impact. And don’t worry, rewilding your yard doesn’t mean you have to give up your beloved peonies or roses. Instead, it’s about finding a balance and including elements in your space that give wildlife a chance.