Gardening for Birds and Pollinators

Birds and pollinators need our help because of habitat loss. You can make a difference in your own backyard by adding native plants.

Three expert presenters will inspire and provide ideas on how to change traditional landscaping into native plant gardens that will attract pollinators and birds. Your landscape will change from lifeless to full of life with buzzing and bird songs!

"Suburban Yard to Native Paradise" with Connie Schmotzer, Coordinator for Pollinator Certification and Pollinator Preferences, Penn State Extension. Connie has been gardening with native plants for 30 years. Learn how she and her husband converted their typical suburban yard into a landscape with over 200 native plants, 3 rain gardens, a small woodland and meadow gardens. Get a general roadmap for your own gardens.

"Supporting Pollinators of Native Plants" with Roxanne Swan, Environmental Botanist and Horticuluralist and Coordinator of the Audubon Center for Native Plants for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. Learn about a variety of pollinating insects and how to support them with native plants.

"Birds in My Garden" with Laura Jackson, Vice-President of Juniata Valley Audubon Society, President of Save Our Allegheny Ridges, and retired high school science teacher. Laura and her husband's lifelong goal is to improve the habitat for wildlife on their 120-acre property. Laura will share how they transformed their lawn into native plant habitats. You'll see the great variety of birds that are attracted to the native flowers, shrubs, and trees they planted. She'll also provide techniques to provide food, water, and safe places to raise young birds, as well as ways to prevent bird strikes on windows.

Tickets are $20 donation minimum. Tickets are transferrable, but not refundable.

The workshop begins at 9:00 am, Saturday, June 24, at the Sawmill Center for the Arts, in the heart of the beautiful Cook Forest State Park. The facility is ADA accessible.

Snacks, coffee, and tea will be provided. Please bring your own water bottle and sack lunch for socializing after the workshop.

Join us for an optional guided bird walk before the workshop and a guided hike into the Cathedral Forest afterwards, weather permitting. Linger to shop in the Craft Center next door to the workshop space. Several restaurants are within a short drive of the workshop.

Sponsors include Seneca Rocks Audubon Society, Clarion Conservation District, Cook Forest Conservancy, and Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Clarion County.

Thanks to our friends including Cook Forest Sawmill Center for the Arts, C&A Trees, Quiet Creek Herb Farm, Ernst Seeds, Greta and Bob Sawyer, and Prairie Moon Nursery.