By Blake Jackson
Even with winter still lingering, it’s the perfect time to start planning your native plant garden! Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City is offering a series of educational events over the next three months to inspire gardeners and highlight the benefits of native plants. These sessions lead up to the annual Native Plant Sale on Saturday, March 28.
- Attracting Butterflies to Your Yard - Jan. 29, 6-7:30 p.m.: Learn how Missouri’s native butterflies rely on both nectar-producing flowers and host plants to support their life cycle. This workshop will show you how to create a yard and garden that helps increase butterfly and caterpillar populations. Participants must be 16 or older. Register at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/o36.
- The Value of Native Bees - Feb. 19, 6-7:30 p.m.: Explore the fascinating world of Missouri’s native bees and discover how these essential pollinators live in gardens, yards, and even unexpected places around your home. Find out where native bees nest and what they need to thrive. Sign up at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/o3b.
- Native Plants for Your Yard - March 26, 6-7:30 p.m.: Prepare for the Native Plant Sale by learning from Runge volunteer naturalists Bill White and Jane Haslag. Bill will cover garden design concepts using native potted plants and plugs, while Jane shares examples from her own native garden. Register at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/o3a.
All presentations will take place in the Runge Conservation Nature Center Auditorium at 330 Commerce Drive, Jefferson City. For more information, contact MDC Assistant Nature Center Manager Becky Matney at becky.matney@mdc.mo.gov.
Photo Credit: istock-herreid
Categories: Missouri, General