Back by popular demand is the Restore Community in Your Yard with Native Plants evening workshop on Thursday, September 19 at 6pm. This workshop will focus on enhancing biodiversity to create healthy habitats in the soil and landscape where you live through story telling. Participants will learn about many of the grasses, wildflowers and shrubs found in Kent County and will be shown how to design with them for rich and beautiful displays that will not only impress the neighbors but will beckon butterflies, birds and bees to visit!

Pictured is Esther Durnwald of Michigan Wildflower Farm. She explains that “there is a definite science – and an art – to growing, harvesting and preparing the seeds, and the seed packets, for sale” When Durnwald and her staff mix a packet for someone, they have to have the right proportions of the different types of seed. Some are the size of a dust speck, while others are much larger, so Durnwald has to consider size and quantity of the varieties she is including.

Workshop presenters are leading native plant landscapers and growers: conservation community activist, naturalist, certified landscape designer and owner of Revery, Rebecca Marquardt, and Esther Durnwald, owner of Michigan Wildflower Farm. Learn how and what to plant at this year’s seminar. The Kent Conservation District plant catalog will be available so participants can be advised on the suitability of your own yard for each unique species.

September Native Plant Workshop
Date: Thursday, September 19th 6pm
Cost: $10 suggested donation at the door.
Where: Wittenbach Wege Agriscience and Environmental Education Center- 11715 Vergennes St, Lowell, MI 49331. RSVP: EventBrite or contact us at (616) 222-5846. For details check out the website kentconservation.org.