WAYNESBORO—The Institute launches its annual spring lecture series, What’s the Buzz in Your Backyard? on Thursday, March 9, at 7 p.m. in the social room at Church of the Apostles in Waynesboro. Admission is free.
The first program in the 3-part series is Pollinators: Heroes in Your Backyard, presented by Laurie Collins.
This program will introduce pollinators found in our area, and why they are considered heroes. Collins will review why they need our help, and what individuals can do to support them, right in their own backyard.
“People at all experience levels can make a difference with how they maintain their backyards and gardens,” Collins said. “There are pollinator support methods for everyone.”
Specific details on recommended sunlight, native plants vs. non-native species, and the varieties of butterflies in our region will also be discussed.
An avid gardener for 27 years, Collins has dedicated more than half an acre of her property to pollinator conservation. Part of the area is a Monarch Waystation and Certified Pollinator Habitat. For several years, she hand-raised and released over 1,000 Monarchs and Black Swallowtail butterflies.
“In addition to gardening, I love taking photos of what I see in the garden,” Collins said. “Pollinators are my passion, and I am constantly seeking opportunities to expand my knowledge and share it with others.” Her own photographs will illustrate the talk.
The second lecture is on Thursday, March 16, when photographer and writer Bonnie Portzline presents Birds with a Gettysburg Address. The final program, on March 23, is Backyard Critters: Furry, Scaly, Slimy, presented by Erika Coover of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
