There is a new understanding of the importance of native plants in our environment, and the extraordinary role ordinary home gardens can play in “creating wildlife corridors that sustain populations of insects, birds and animals” - The Importance of Native Plants, Fine Gardening, Julie Moir Messervy.
Visiting native plant gardens and bringing others along to witness their beauty and habitat value may be one of the most powerful individual efforts we each can make to entice and persuade our neighbors, colleagues, family, and even ourselves, to add more native plants to our gardens.
“...most native insects cannot, or will not, eat alien plants. When native plant species disappear or are replaced by alien exotics, the insects disappear, thus impoverishing the food source of birds and other animals.” - Prof. Doug Tallamy in his book Bringing Nature Home.
The 18th annual Going Native Garden Tour (GNGT) previously scheduled for Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 will be online only this year to ensure the health and safety of visitors, garden owners, and volunteers.
Connecting people to nature and California native plants is more important than ever, so selected GNGT gardens located throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties will have virtual tours that you can view anytime with lots more photos and some videos. Visit gngt.org to see the virtual tours. Registration isn’t required for the virtual tour, but please do register. You’ll then receive notifications about any live webcasts and the 2021 Tour.
Tue Jul 23 @ 7:00PM - 09:00PM Native Plant ID |
Thu Jul 25 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Gardening for Monarch Butterflies, a talk by Shelkie Tao |
Fri Jul 26 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |
Fri Jul 26 @ 7:00PM - 08:50PM Photography Group - Photo Sharing Meeting |
Sat Jul 27 @ 8:00AM - 10:00AM Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sat Jul 27 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Community Work Day at the Native Plant Garden in Kirk Park |
Wed Jul 31 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Flowers as Islands, a talk by Tadashi Fukami |
Fri Aug 02 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |
Sat Aug 03 @ 8:00AM - 10:00AM Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sat Aug 03 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Community Work Day at the Native Plant Garden in Kirk Park |