Native Gardening: Planning & Plant Choices
Hitchcock Nature Center, Pottawattamie County
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Pottawattamie County Conservation is pleased to announce a new partnership with author, poet, gardener and conservationist Benjamin Vogt. This three-part native gardening series is designed to aid gardeners design and plant their own native garden.
Our first session will be held on Saturday, February 17th at 2:00 p.m. at Hitchcock Nature Center, Honey Creek, Iowa.
This program is comprised of three individual sessions each focusing on a new topic. The cost is $10.00 per person per session and pre-registration is required as space is limited. Please register online for each class session individually.
This series of classes is being presented as part of our adult education programming. We ask that participants be age 18 & over. Thank you for understanding.
February 17th, 2:00 p.m. - Planning & Plant Choices
This class will cover resources and strategies to help you choose the best plant for the best spot. We will look at online databases, trusted websites, and the best books to help you thing about appropriate plants and sustainable design for wildlife.
March 17th, 2:00 p.m. - Plants for Pollinators
This class will explore some of the best flowering native forbs, grasses, and sedges that support both adult and larval insects. Learn to plan for cover during various seasons and site conditions for maximum pollinator support.
April 14th, 2:00 p.m. - Winter Wildlife Habitat
This class will consider planting and design strategies that you can employ in spring that will create a habitat throughout the winter months. We will cover both the ornamental and practical benefits of specific native forbs, grasses, and woody plants in the cold season. We'll also consider how to effectively design a landscape mixing all plant types to increase edge zones where wildlife thrive.
About Benjamin Vogt
Benjamin Vogt is the driving force behind Monarch Gardens LLC, a prairie garden consulting and design firm in the Omaha/Lincoln area. Monarch Gardens LLC helps homeowners, schools, and businesses choose native plant species to populate their gardens, creating landscape plans that support responsible gardening practices. Benjamin's own 2,500' (soon to be 4,500') native garden was named a "Top Outdoor Space" in 2012 by "Apartment Therapy" and has been featured in numerous publications. His latest book, "A New Garden Ethic" was released in October, 2017.
Photo Courtesy of Chris Ruhaak, Heartland Photos and Design
