Fall is an excellent time to plant native trees, shrubs and perennials so please join us for fun, food and flowers at the third annual Grow Native! Native Plant Festival and Sale. This year the focus is on native plants and pollinators.
Festivities begin at 9 am with a guided nature walk around the refuge with NY State Master Naturalist Volunteer, Pete Saracino.
At 10 am native plant and pollinator presentations begin with Janice Wiles from Go Native! Perennials in Skaneateles. Learn about the efforts in place to boost the native plant seed supply. Janice will also share updates on the latest efforts to scale up the production of native plants in NY State and explain how she is working to rewild for habitat and future seed sourcing.
Then join Molly Jacobson from SUNY ESF Restoration Science Center at 11:15 to discover the fascinating and diverse interactions between native plants and native pollinators here in the northeast, including how you can support them in your own backyard. Afterwards, follow Molly outdoors for a walk to see these plant-pollinator relationships in action!
Hang around for the 1 pm presentation with Krissy Boys from the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society and learn how to build the all-inclusive pollinator garden for the native bee species most in need. Krissy will discuss plant propagation protocols and then head out for a workshop where she will demonstrate how to start your own seeds and proper seed-handling techniques.
And more…
“Meet the Biologist” - Stop by for a chat with our very own Refuge Biologist, Linda Ziemba. Linda will be available to answer your “Refuge” questions throughout the day on the Visitor Center deck.
Out on the lawn, make sure to visit:
Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, Wild Ones/HGCNY and Finger Lakes Native Plant Society to get more gardening and composting tips
Native plant vendors and local artisans
Big Awesome BBQ food truck for lunch followed by a treat from Cayuga Lake Creamery
End the day (2:45 pm) with a birding tour along the Wildlife Drive with Audubon’s Fred Leff.
Also check out other Festivals in Montezuma, Workshops in Montezuma, Food & Drink events in Montezuma.
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