Native Plants for Your Gardens

Instructor: Maud Lyon

How would our gardens be different if we thought of them as an ecosystem supporting life, instead of merely a visual array of pretty plants? You can increase biodiversity right in your backyard with a few simple steps. It all begins with native plants, the foundation of the food web for insects, birds and mammals. Learn how to support pollinators and birds by adding native plants—and how native plants improve water quality, reduce flooding and minimize garden maintenance.

About the Presenter: Maud Lyon has been an avid gardener for over 25 years, experimenting in her own gardens. The study of native plants led her to the fascinating world of entomology and a new awareness of “the little things that run the world.” This class illustrates the importance of local ecology starting right in our own backyards. Maud’s expertise extends to a wide variety of initiatives. Most recently she was chosen to serve as the interim executive director of the Belle Isle Conservancy—a post for which she is uniquely qualified.