Healthy Gardens and Landscapes for People, Pets and Pollinators
On May 12, 2023, Marilyn Trent and Stephanie Smith of The Rochester Pollinators gave an informative and timely presentation on "Healthy Lawns and Landscapes for People, Pets and Pollinators" at the Rochester Hills Public Library (RHPL). They asked a fundamental question to consider:
Why are we disrupting nature's healthy balance with our habits?
Then they invited attendees to consider rethinking their landscaping designs and maintenance practices for greater health and well being for all--and they made a case for the beauty and necessity of native plants.
A lot of helpful practical information was shared, including an overview of common herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers; a discussion on how we define beauty when it comes to our landscapes and possibilities for adjusting our vision; how to identify beneficial insects; how to choose natural fertilizers and potting soils; and methods for control of mosquitoes that are natural, safe for us and our pets, and bee-safe.
For those of you who could not make it to the presentation or who would like to review any of the content from that evening, the RHPL has now made the presentation available to view: