West Georgia Chapter members were involved in a whirlwind of community outreach activities during June.  In addition to the STEM teacher training reported previously (https://gnps.org/native-plant-education-for-stem-teachers/), members were involved in three other events.

On June 2 Carol Hight did a presentation for the Master Gardeners’ Camp Dirty Knees on how to attract birds to your yard.  Camp Dirty Knees is a summer program to teach children about gardening, hosted by the Carroll County Master Gardeners.  Carol taught campers how birds depend on native plants for food and shelter.

On June 21 Diane Rooks, Ann Ethridge and Carol Hight presented a program called “How to Landscape for the Birds” at the Neva Lomason Library.  After the presentation, participants potted and took home native plants that will provide seeds for birds in the fall.  Plants were donated by the chapter.

On June 26 Amy Rhodes gave a presentation at the Paulding County UGA Extension Office titled “A Perspective on Beauty in the Landscape: Recovering Native Plants.”  Attendees included Paulding Master Gardeners and community homeowners.  Amy discussed the history of turf grass lawns; their environmental, ecological, and economic consequences; and how to change our perspective on what’s beautiful in the landscape while restoring biodiversity through use of native plants.

Kudos to our chapter educators for all of these great events!   If you would like to help with educational programs for community groups, please email info_westgeorgia@gnps.org.