The Greenwich Botanical Center presents their next two events in the Native Habitat Virtual Lecture Series. Join Sarah Coccaro, Conservation Resource Manager for Greenwich Conservation Commission, on April 7 as she discusses how to create a sustainable habitat in your own backyard. Join Ruth Rogers Clausen on April 8 for a lecture on her book, Deer Resistant Native Plants of the Northeast. Coccaro and Clausen, experts in horticulture, will discuss sustainable methods of creating ecologically balanced ecosystems.
On April 7 at 10:00 a.m., Sarah Coccaro will present her lecture, “Sustainable Habitats Using Native Vegetation to Manage Wildlife.” Coccaro will share tips for enhancing wildlife habitats and supporting pollinators while using native vegetation to deter pests. She will emphasize the importance of dealing with unwanted wildlife while encouraging beneficial pollinators like bats, bees, butterflies, owls and more.
“Nature always provides a solution even when dealing with unwanted wildlife,” Coccaro says.
Coccaro currently serves as the Conservation Resource Manager for the Greenwich Conservation Commission and is an integral member of the Greenwich Grown initiative. Coccaro’s lecture is in collaboration with Greenwich Grown.
Greenwich Grown partners with the Audubon, Greenwich Botanical Center, Greenwich Conservation Commission, Greenwich Land Trust, and the Greenwich Tree Conservancy, with support from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and Sam Bridge Nursery.
For the last three years, Coccaro has led Greenwich Grown’s initiative to restore the natural habitat of Greenwich. Every fall and spring, Greenwich Grown and its community partners host their Pollinator Potluck event, where they visit seven sites around town to remove invasive species and plant native species.
After joining Sarah Coccaro on Wednesday, April 7 to learn how you can make an impact in our local ecosystem, join Ruth Clausen on Thursday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. to learn what deer resistant native plants to integrate into your garden and outdoor space.
Clausen studied horticulture in school and then built a career freelancing as a teacher, lecturer, and author in the US and Canada. She has written several books including 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants (2011), Essential Perennials (2015), and The Proven Winners Garden Book (2019). Clausen was also Horticulture Editor for Country Living Gardener magazine for almost eight years. Currently, Clausen works as a consultant and freelance writer, writing Deer Resistant Native Plants for the Northeast as her most recent accomplishment.
Clausen’s lecture will cover how homeowners can establish deer resistant gardens that also support natural ecosystems by planting certain native plants. As we approach spring and summer, deer can be found all over Greenwich. While deer are an important part of our local environment, they can wreak havoc on our beautiful gardens.
These two virtual lectures are just the latest in the Greenwich Botanical Center’s series on the importance of native species in our local ecosystems. If you missed any of these past lectures, they were all recorded for future viewing. Contact the Greenwich Botanical Center for access!
At the start of the series, distinguished teaching professor, Dr. Donald J. Leopold, discussed his book Native Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening and Conservation. Then, Sam Bridge Nursery gave a presentation on native containers proving that there are things we all can do to build a better environment even with limited space. Andy Chapin, Greenwich Land Steward, followed with a lecture on deer resistant garden tips. Most recently, Rhonda Flemming Hayes discussed her book Pollinator Friendly Gardens to inspire participants with beautiful native plants. All books can be purchased at Greenwich Botanical Center boutique and offices.
Learn more about the Greenwich Botanical Center’s upcoming programs at greenwichbotanicalcenter.org.
