WNJ Exclusive: Gardening for Wildlife Workshops Featured at Nature Center of Cape May
Learn how to bring beauties such as this Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly to your garden in a series of four “Gardening for Wildlife” workshops at the Nature Center of Cape May beginning October 22.
Photo credit: Nature Center of Cape May
Backyard habitat expert Patricia Sutton is ready to show you how to transform your backyard into a haven for showy hummingbirds, colorful butterflies, nesting and wintering birds, caterpillars and much more in a series of four “Gardening for Wildlife Workshops.”
The first workshop, entitled “How to Create a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife,” will take place Saturday, October 22, followed by “How to Create a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden” on Saturday, November 5. Additional workshops include “How to Create a Wildflower Meadow & Wildlife Pond” on Saturday, November 12 and “Battlestar Backyardia – Battling the Alien Invaders” on November 26. All workshops take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Nature Center of Cape May.
Now is the time to begin laying the foundation for a garden that will meet all the needs of hummingbirds and butterflies, and ensure a dazzling display from late April through early October. The program features wildlife gardens in South Jersey that have successfully transformed typical backyards into vibrant gardens ablaze and alive with butterflies and hummingbirds.
The first workshop is the backbone to the series (try not to miss it) and will supply a good foundation for the following sessions. Each will include a question-and-answer session and a visit to a nearby backyard habitat. During a working lunch, participants will have the opportunity to discuss their own gardens.
Patricia Sutton is an expert on wildlife-friendly gardening and former program director of the Cape May Bird Observatory. She is coauthor, along with her husband Clay, of several books
on bird and butterfly watching, including the highly acclaimed “Birds and Birding at Cape May.”
One of the secrets that Sutton will share is that native plants and wildlife-friendly practices are the key to success. Valuable workshop handouts will include Pat’s list of native trees, shrubs, and vines most utilized by birds, butterflies, mammals, and the many insects birds feast upon and a list of primary book and internet resources.
These workshops have been scheduled for late fall and early winter, the perfect time to begin planning next year’s gardens, order plants and seeds, and dream of the gardening to come.
Before the workshop, download, print and bring along Sutton’s articles “How to Create a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden” and the “Recommended Plantings to Attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies, and Moths,” available at:
www.njaudubon.org/Education/BackyardHabitat/ButterHummGarden.html and
www.njaudubon.org/Education/BackyardHabitat/KeyPlants.html.
The program fee for each workshop is $45.00, reduced to $35.00 for New Jersey Audubon members. Sign up for all four workshops at a discounted rate of $150.00 for nonmembers and $125.00 for members.
Attendance is limited to 30 participants per session, so call 609-898-8848 right away to reserve your spot. The Nature Center of Cape May is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May, along the shores of beautiful Cape May Harbor.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 10/21/2011 4:18 PM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: Nature Center of Cape May Gardening for Wildlife Workshops How to Create a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: Nature Center of Cape May Gardening for Wildlife Workshops How to Create a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife
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