Hopewell Valley residents are invited to a virtual lecture this weekend by Doug Tallamy, a nationally known expert on native plants. His work, including the website Homegrown National Parks, inspired members of the Hopewell Township Environmental Commission to partner with Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) in setting up a program to encourage local residents to learn about and plant native flora in their yards. Part of this initiative is seen in the popular Facebook page: Hopewell, NJ Native Plant Swap. The program also would provide free native plant starter gardens to township residents. Tallamy recently wrote a letter of support to endorse the FoHVOS/HT Environmental Commission initiative, which also was supported by a Resolution of the Hopewell Township Committee.
According to the Hardy Plant Society/mid-Atlantic Group, Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 95 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association. The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014. Doug’s new book Nature’s Best Hope was published by Timber Press in February 2020. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B.Y. Morrison Communication Award and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award.
The lecture will take place January 10, 2pm – 3pm. Registration is free but required. Click here to go to the Scott Arboretum website to register. A description of the lecture states: “A recent UN report predicts that as many as one million species will soon disappear because of human activities. Many of these are insects and nearly all species at risk, including humans, rely on insects. So how do we create beautiful landscapes brimming with the life that runs the ecosystems we depend on? Tallamy will remind us of the essential roles insects play, and describe the simple changes we must make in our landscapes and our attitudes to keep insects on the ground, in the air and yes, on our plants.”
The lecture is sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society/ Mid-Atlantic Group, which is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer organization for gardeners in the Mid-Atlantic region. They encourage gardeners – from beginners to professionals – to learn more about horticulture and to share their skills, knowledge, and plants with each other.
