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Less than one percent of insects--600 species worldwide--are considered pests. I learned that fact, along with dozens of other cool facts, from Samantha Nestory when I took a moth walk with her two summers ago at Stoneleigh, the public garden of Natural Lands.
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Insects get a bad rap, but they make our lives possible, and they need our help. In the same way that a good teacher does not punish an entire class for the bad behavior of one child, we should not be killing all the insects in our yards just to rid ourselves of two pests: ticks and mosquitoes. Mosquito spraying companies have made their own sort of killing by insisting that their chemicals do not harm pollinators, but a new study released by the Xerces Society suggests otherwise:
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For the study, 26 volunteers in Georgia, Iowa, and Massachusetts placed monitors in their yards before mosquito sprays in their own yard, in a neighboring yard, or by a mosquito control district. This study was conducted by scientists at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and the University of Nevada, Reno.
All yards that were sprayed for mosquitoes by private companies had levels of pyrethroid insecticides high enough to kill bees or other beneficial insects, and 75% of samples from yards neighboring those sprayed by private companies had pyrethroid contamination. Pyrethroids are commonly used in residential mosquito sprays and are toxic to pollinators.
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As we head into spring, we can think about what we will do this year to protect ourselves from mosquitoes and what pro-pollinator steps we can take. One step is to take Doug Tallamy's Mosquito Bucket Challenge.
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Another action is to attend our spring gathering on March 21 and let Samantha Nestory tell you about all the beneficial bugs you can attract to your yard. Some of them eat ticks!
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Besides enjoying great refreshments and learning valuable information, you will be able to buy one of our attractive new garden signs (shown below), which were designed by Joe Wirtheim in Portland, Oregon. And in honor of Women's History Month, you can also pick up a copy of my book for children about Maria Sibyla Merian.
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There is so much we can do together for pollinators. I hope you will join us on March 21 and throughout the season!
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Get outside with us on 3/1!
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We are returning to the area in Harriet Wetherill Park where we worked last year to remove English ivy and honeysuckle vine. Andrew Conboy of Community Canopy Project reports that he has seen the bloodroot population in this old growth forest remnant expand with the removal of invasive species--very exciting! We will be working with volunteers from Community Canopy Project and Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers. Join us on Sunday, March 1 from 1:00-3:00!
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Come to our 3rd annual spring gathering!
Saturday, March 21 from 9:30-11:30
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Join us on the first Saturday of spring to learn how you can get involved with Journeywork! Enjoy a talk and Q&A by Samantha Nestory, the engagement manager and naturalist at Stoneleigh: a natural garden in Villanova. Samantha will be introducing us to the beneficial bugs that we can invite into our gardens to control pests (instead of using pesticides). Engagement Manager is a great title for Samantha because she is a very engaging speaker, and you will learn a lot!
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Bring some seeds to swap if you have them, and trade planting tips, stories, and questions over coffee and bagels. Delicious refreshments and coffee are generously provided by Weavers Way and Backyard Beans.
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Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $10 for members (use the discount code on your membership card).
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In her work at Stoneleigh, Samantha Nestory develops educational programming, coordinates public events, and manages the volunteer program. Previously, Samantha worked in ecological horticulture at Morris Arboretum and Stoneleigh for several years before moving into her current position. She is passionate about educating and engaging the community about native plants, insects, and the vital ecology of our region.
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Plants in Pots make-n-take workshops
Have you wanted to do your part for pollinators, but you don’t have a yard? This spring, you can sign up for one of our Plants in Pots make-and-take workshops!
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In the workshop, you will learn about native plants that grow well in containers and some of the pollinators they attract. Then you have three options:
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- Bring your own planter to pot up three native plants for $45.
- Pot up three native plants in one of our pots for $60.
- Learn about all of the plants and take the three plants with you because you have a yard and know where you want to plant them for $40.
We will have three species for sun and three for shade. Exact species depend upon availability but may include:
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for shade: Coral bells (Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s strain’), large-leaved aster (Eurybia macrophylla), Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans), Seersucker sedge (Carex plantaginea), and Appalachian sedge (Carex appalachica)
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for sun: Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), Eastern bee balm (Monarda bradburiana), Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Eastern star sedge (Carex radiata), and Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata).
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Where and when? (More dates and locations in Philadelphia rolling out soon)
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Saturday, April 18 3:00 at Gwynedd Friends Meeting--register here
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We will take your gently used flower pots
To make our Plants in pots program as accessible as possible, we are accepting donations of gently used flower pots: ceramic, terra cotta, or sturdy plastic (not planters with nursery names printed on them or black plastic nursery pots).
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Dive into our spring calendar!
Meeting community members at township festivals and environmental fairs is a huge part of how Journeywork shares its mission, and it is a lot of fun! It is how I met most of the folks reading this newsletter! We have many tabling events this spring, several occurring simultaneously, and we could really use your help.
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If you are interested in volunteering a couple of hours to chat with members of your community about the joys of native plants, please sign up for our Tabling 101 Zoom session on Thursday, March 19 from 7:30-8:15.
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- Saturday, March 14: Native Plant Fest hosted by Liberty Bird Alliance at Germantown Academy, 10:00-4:00 RSVP here
- Saturday, March 14: spring registration for fall Pollinator Palooza begins: prep your yard in the spring and pick up plants in the fall!
- Saturday, March 21: Journeywork spring gathering at Plymouth Friends Meeting, 9:30-11:30 register here
- Saturday, March 21: Abington Garden Festival at Abington Public Library, 1:00-3:00
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- Saturday, April 18: Plants in Pots workshop at Gwynedd Friends Meeting, 3:00-4:00 register here
- Sunday, April 19: Plants in Pots workshop at Plymouth Friends Meeting, 3:00-4:00 register here
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- Saturday, April 25: Upper Moreland Earth Day Fair, Masons Mill Park, 10:00-1:00
- Saturday, April 25: Whitemarsh Township Day, Victory Fields, 12:00-5:00 (volunteer from 12-2, 2-4, 3-5)
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- Sunday, May 3: NarbEarth Day, Narberth Park, 12:00-4:00 (volunteer from 12-2, 2-4)
- Saturday, May 9: plant at The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown
- Saturday, May 16: plant in Havertown, 3:00-4:30
- Sunday, May 17: Keystone-Ambler Woman's Farm & Garden plant sale, Twining Park, Dresher 12:00-3:00
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- Sunday, May 17: plant in Upper Dublin
- Saturday, May 30: Plymouth Township Community Day, 10:00-2:00
- Saturday, May 30: plant in Media
- Friday, June 19: Summer Solstice Evening featuring John Mark Courtney, 7:00-9:00
- Saturday, June 20: Bucks Farm & Garden Designed for Nature Tour, 10:00-3:00
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the Journeywork journey
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We are doing consultations for spring planting. We can create a garden design for you now, source the plants, and plan a spring installation event, but our calendar is almost full!
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It is not too late to become a Journeywork member and get 5% off plants from Edge of the Woods Nursery and 10% off plants from Good Host Plants. (new Edge of the Woods rate for 2026)
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If Journeywork inspires you to sheet mulch, start seeds, or plant some native plants in your yard, please send us a picture! Or a donation! Let's celebrate and support each other!
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We have 621 newsletter subscribers now--woo hoo! As soon as we went over 500, the fee to send the newsletter doubled. If you have enjoyed our newsletter, please consider making a donation to help us cover our costs. You can now sign up to make a recurring donation--the cost of a latte every month goes a long way!
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