Gardening for Wildlife Workshops Return

No matter where you live, no matter how small your backyard, your outdoor space can be transformed into a haven for showy hummingbirds, colorful butterflies, nesting and wintering birds, caterpillars and much more.
Let backyard habitat expert Patricia Sutton show you how in a series of three “Gardening for Wildlife Workshops” designed for those who wish to create their own backyard paradise for birds, butterflies and many other species of wildlife.
The first workshop, entitled “How to Create a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife,” will take place Saturday, November 7, followed by “How to Create a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden” on Saturday, November 14. Sutton will present the final workshop, “How to Create a Wildflower Meadow and Pond,” on Saturday, December 5. All workshops take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Nature Center of Cape May.
The first workshop is the backbone to the series (try not to miss it) and will supply a good foundation for the following sessions. Each will include a question-and-answer session and a visit to a nearby backyard habitat. During a working lunch, participants will have the opportunity to discuss their own gardens.
Patricia Sutton is an expert on wildlife-friendly gardening and former program director of the Cape May Bird Observatory. She is coauthor, along with her husband Clay, of several books on bird and butterfly watching, including the highly acclaimed “Birds and Birding at Cape May.”
One of the secrets that Sutton will share is that native plants and wildlife-friendly practices are the key to success. Valuable workshop handouts will include Pat’s list of native trees, shrubs, and vines most utilized by birds, butterflies, mammals, and the many insects birds feast upon and a list of primary book and internet resources.
These workshops have been scheduled for late fall and early winter, the perfect time to begin planning next year’s gardens, order plants and seeds, and dream of the gardening to come.
Before the workshop, download, print and bring along Sutton’s articles “How to Create a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden” and the “Recommended Plantings to Attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies, and Moths,” available at:
www.njaudubon.org/Education/BackyardHabitat/ButterHummGarden.html and
www.njaudubon.org/Education/BackyardHabitat/KeyPlants.html.
The program fee for each workshop is $30.00, reduced to $20.00 for New Jersey Audubon Society members. Attendance is limited to 30 participants per session, so call 609-898-8848 right away to reserve your spot. The Nature Center of Cape May is located at 1600 Delaware Ave., in Cape May, along the shores of beautiful Cape May Harbor. Just look for the bright blue roof.