Growing Together: Open Forum

Hi! We're kicking off our next round of Community Chats on 8/20 at 3pm ET with a Chat about native gardening! 

We can chat about how to select native plants, key resources, building diverse habitats, youth activities involving native gardens, citizen science projects, and anything else you'd like to discuss. From those new to gardening to seasoned educators, everyone is welcome to join, share ideas, and learn together!

Here's the link to register. 

We plan to record this Chat if you can't make it! 

Hi! We're kicking off our next round of Community Chats on 8/20 at 3pm ET with a Chat about native gardening! 

We can chat about how to select native plants, key resources, building diverse habitats, youth activities involving native gardens, citizen science projects, and anything else you'd like to discuss. From those new to gardening to seasoned educators, everyone is welcome to join, share ideas, and learn together!

Here's the link to register. 

We plan to record this Chat if you can't make it! 

The Community Chat on native gardening this week was SO GOOD! Huge thanks to our topic specialists Matthew, Amber, and Paige, and so many of you Community members for sharing so much information from the activities you're using in your programs to toxic plants to watch out for and so much more! If you can't watch the recording (attached) at least check out this list of resources and ideas shared by attendees and some new ones that were shared after the Chat. This doesn't capture everything we discussed so give the recording a listen and/or ask any other native garden questions you have! Share more resources, too :)

Resources

• For identifying native plants

• The North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - lists thousands of plants and contains helpful information such as any toxicity concerns

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - plant database and also has lists of plants and collections

• Pollinator Partnership Ecoregional Planting Guides - native planting guides specific to your region

• Xerces Society - regional lists of native plants for pollinators

• National Wildlife Foundation Native Plant Finder - interactive site where you search by zip code for native plants or the butterflies you want to attract

• Plant ID apps: iNaturalist, PictureThis

• Other suggestions for learning to ID plants: join local nature walks and visit local botanic gardens
  
  

• Educational resources and kid-friendly activities

• Theodore Payne Foundation - lots of resources for Southern California, including professional development and K-12 education

• Resources from KidsGardening

• Wyman's Native Pollinator Guides

• The Role of Native Plants and Pollinators in Biodiversity

• Seed Balls activity

• Plant a Butterfly Garden

• Meadowscaping Guides

• The Native Plant Society of New Jersey School Guide

• Native Plant Society of Texas - guides, garden examples, curriculum connections, and more

• Winter sowing guide

• Webinar with Doug Tallomy - why native pollinator habitat is important and practical advice

• Funding ideas:

• Municipal water departments may provide funding for efforts to reduce water use (i.e. drought tolerant gardens)

• Local native plant sales/swaps

• Your state or area may have "Keep [insert area name] Beautiful" grants

• Local native plant society chapter, Wild Ones chapter, and local garden clubs may offer small grants or seeds and plants

• Experiment with propagation or seed starting, or connect with community groups that could do this for you

• Xerces Society offers habitat kits to certain areas in the US

• Monarch Watch application for milkweed (opens October 1, 2024)

• Pollinator Partnership has a native wildflower seed grant (opens in June 2025)

• Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant for native gardens (open now!)

• Local support:

• Native Plant Society local chapters

• County/university extension offices

• Master Gardeners

• Wild Ones (and see if there's a chapter near you!)
  
  

• And if you're looking for landscape design advice, one of our topic specialists, Paige Payne, does consultations: Online Landscape Designs (and posts a lot about native plants on her social media so give her a follow!)

Recording Time Stamps
14:00 - Benefits of native plants and recommendations for how to plant
23:55 - Ideas for lesson plans and activities related to native plants and gardens
37:05 - Examples of native edible plants
46:35 - Discussion of invasive plants and suggestions for how to ID plants
55:30 - Funding and sourcing plants for native gardens
1:00:05 - Suggestions for fall planting

Hi! We're kicking off our next round of Community Chats on 8/20 at 3pm ET with a Chat about native gardening! 

We can chat about how to select native plants, key resources, building diverse habitats, youth activities involving native gardens, citizen science projects, and anything else you'd like to discuss. From those new to gardening to seasoned educators, everyone is welcome to join, share ideas, and learn together!

Here's the link to register. 

We plan to record this Chat if you can't make it! 

Hi! We're kicking off our next round of Community Chats on 8/20 at 3pm ET with a Chat about native gardening! 

We can chat about how to select native plants, key resources, building diverse habitats, youth activities involving native gardens, citizen science projects, and anything else you'd like to discuss. From those new to gardening to seasoned educators, everyone is welcome to join, share ideas, and learn together!

Here's the link to register. 

We plan to record this Chat if you can't make it!