35 Lakefront Drive Geneva, NY 14544
The City of Geneva Green Committee, partnering with the Town of Geneva Sustainability Committee, and the Geneva High School Green Club, is sponsoring a Native Plant Sale at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning, September 28th from 8:00 am till 1:00 pm. The plant sale will feature three Native Plant Nurseries: Amanda’s Garden, Butterfly Effect, and White Oak Nursery.
The native plant nurseries will be available for consultation about planning your native plant gardens and will offer native perennials, shrubs and trees for sale. There will be information about the Lake Friendly Living campaign and an opportunity to learn about helping with the city gardens at the lakefront.
While most of us don’t think about planning next year’s garden in fall, it is actually a great time of year to do so. Ellen Folts, the owner of Amanda’s Garden, a local nursery specializing in native perennial wildflowers, grasses and sedges, points out that “Fall is really the best time to introduce new plants to your gardens. The roots continue to grow until the ground freezes and you don’t have to water as much because it rains more. There is also less weed competition, as most weed seeds germinate in the spring.” It is also perhaps the best time of year to plant trees and seedlings.
Why plant native plants? “Native plants are not only beautiful, but they provide food for pollinators, require little upkeep, use less water, promote biodiversity and support local ecology.” Jim Norwalk of Butterfly Effect Nursery points out that “by creating native plant gardens, we can help preserve the natural heritage and biodiversity of our region. Each of us can play an important role in a community effort to restore our living landscape.”
The City of Geneva and BID has made a big effort to encourage gardening with Native Plants. Leading by example, they have planted native flowers and grass, native sedges, bushes and trees in our lake front gardens and in our new street gardens downtown for which they have provided a Self- Guided Plant Tour. So come and join the City initiative by planting Native Plants in your gardens. Help us rebuild a healthy ecosystem.
