Governor Brian Kemp recently signed a proclamation designating the month of September as Georgia Native Plants Month. A collaborative effort between Georgia Audubon and Georgia Native Plant Society (GNPS), Georgia Native Plants Month is designed to highlight the importance of using native plants in our landscape and the key role that native plants play for birds and other wildlife. Georgia Audubon and Georgia Native Plant Society are hosting a number of collaborative events in September to help Georgians learn more about gardening for birds and other wildlife using native plants.
This year, Georgia Audubon is delighted to partner with GNPS to bring an amazing lineup of events designed to help Georgians transform their landscapes with native plants for birds and other wildlife.
The signature event will take place on Saturday September 9, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Treehouse. Join fellow plant and bird enthusiasts for a Round Robin on Transforming your Greenspace. Hear from experts from Georgia Audubon, the Georgia Native Plant Society, and Trees Atlanta to learn now to build a wildlife sanctuary in your own landscape, including information on propagating plants, controlling invasive plants, and building and managing native landscapes for birds and other pollinators. Each of these three organizations offers habitat certifications and their presentations will cover specifics on how to become certified. The Round Robin will feature exhibitors, tours of the newly certified garden at Trees Atlanta, and an optional early morning bird walk prior to the event. There will also be an optional native plant and bird tour at nearby Lionel Hampton Park in the afternoon.
In addition to this signature event, both organizations will be hosting a number of virtual and in-person events to educate the public about the importance of native plants to birds, including:
Wednesday, September 7, 7:00 PM — Webinar: Insects and Their Importance to Birds
Saturday, September 9, 9:00 AM — Georgia Grows Native for Birds Round Robin, with Georgia Audubon, Georgia Native Plant Society, and Trees Atlanta (Fulton County)
Monday, September 11, 9:00 AM — Native Plant Workshop at Island Ford CRNRA (Fulton County)
Monday, September 11, 1:00 PM — Field Trip at Island Ford CRNRA (Fulton County)
Thursday, September 14, 7:00 PM — Webinar: Building Better Backyards for Birds
Saturday, September 16, 9:00 AM – West Georgia Chapter Fall Plant Sale (Carroll County)
Saturday, September 16, 9:00 AM — Working Forests for Birds Field Day with Georgia Forestry Foundation and Georgia Audubon (Monticello)
Tuesday, September 19, 5:30 PM — Plant ID Workshop at Henderson Park (DeKalb County)
Thursday, September 21, 7:00 PM — Webinar: Gardening for Bats
Saturday, September 23, 9:00 AM – Native Plant ID Walk at Wright Environmental Education Center (Marietta)
Saturday, September 23, 9:00 AM – Coastal Plain Chapter Native Plant Sale at Coastal Wildscapes Fall Event (Darien)
Saturday, September 23, 9:00 AM – Coastal Plain Chapter Native Plant Sale at Water, Wings and Wildlife Festival at Flint Riverquarium (Albany)
Saturday, September 30, 10:00 AM — Native Garden Tour hosted by the Intown Atlanta Chapter (Atlanta)
Saturday, September 30, time TBD — GNPS Athens-East Piedmont Chapter Invasive Plant Workshop (Clarke County)
More information at www.georgiaaudubon.org/georgia-grows-native-for-birds-month.
Proclamation from Governor Brian Kemp