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I normally write an essay in this space, aiming to share a bit of the joy I find in working with and observing native plants and the life they attract to them. This month's newsletter is jam-packed with good news about native plants and all the people coming together to plant more and more of them. Plenty of joy below--keep reading!
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Thirteen volunteers helped the spring Pollinator Palooza flow smoothly from pick up at Kind Earth Growers to distribution on Saturday, May 17. What a team--thank you!
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Many thanks to all of you who participated and are now adding habitat to your yards! Feel free to send us pictures to share in the newsletter!
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There is still time to sign up for fall plants and kill some of your lawn this summer! We are taking registrations until June 15.
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Volunteers worked across three days to sort 2,912 plants and label them.
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Generally, it rained the whole time, but they kept on!
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We distributed 68 sun sets and 36 dry shade sets.
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41 people also took home free shrubs.
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The smiling folks in the two photos above are thrilled to have won their pollinator gardens from Whitpain EAC. The photos below were sent in by Pollinator Palooza participants right after they planted their gardens. Less lawn and more habitat on the way!
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Plant grant for Lincoln High School, Philadelphia
Tyshea Smart (pictured below right with her hand on the Lincoln monument) wrote this description of the project for which her class received a plant grant:
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We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Paige from Journeywork for her generous donation of the plant materials for our Veterans' Butterfly Garden. This initiative not only aims to enhance the beauty of our school’s front area but also serves as a meaningful tribute to our veteran staff. Through our Facility and Property Maintenance CTE program, we are honing our construction skills while simultaneously contributing to a project that holds significant value for our community.
Our Veterans' Butterfly Garden project represents our commitment to community service, particularly for our teachers and staff. By participating in SkillsUSA, a national organization that fosters leadership and technical skills, we are empowered to create a serene space where our veteran staff can unwind after a demanding day. This project not only showcases our abilities but also reinforces our dedication to honoring those who have served.
Sincerely,
Tyshea Smart
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and another plant grant to
Indian Valley Middle School,Souderton
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Zack Hockman, a sixth grade teacher at Indian Valley Middle School in Harleysville, reached out to Journeywork about getting a plant grant to incorporate a pollinator garden into the large vegetable garden that he plants with the members of the SAVE Club (Students Against Violating the Earth). Before the school year ends, they are going to add some sun-loving flowers to a space between the garlic and other crops. Students sign up to take turns caring for the garden throughout the summer.
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Spend Pollinator Week with Journeywork!
We have a couple of exciting events planned to celebrate pollinators during their special week at the beginning of summer.
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We are partnering with the Ambler Theater on Tuesday, June 17 to show Microcosmos, a groundbreaking 90s documentary that takes us into the hidden daily rhythms of the insect world. You can reserve tickets here.
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Summer Solstice Evening with Jenny Rose Carey
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Then on Friday, June 20, we are honored to have Jenny Rose Carey deliver our inaugural Summer Solstice Lecture.
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With her vast knowledge and infectious wonder, she will discuss how to take our native gardening cues from nature.
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After her introductory remarks, Jenny will lead a walk around the grounds to highlight native plants and share her experiences with them.
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This event will take place in the field at Gwynedd Friends Meeting. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to relax, enjoy refreshments from local venues, and watch bats and lightning bugs appear as the sun sets.
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**Please email paige@journeywork.org if you would like to help with set up on June 20.
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Proceeds from this event support our outreach efforts and plant grants to schools. Celebrate the start of summer and support our mission to restore the land together, joyfully.
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We are grateful for our sponsors!
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Planting through the merry month of May
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First we helped Poorva plant 61 native trees and shrubs in her Blue Bell yard. She received the trees through a free distribution and just needed some help getting them in the ground.
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Then we created a shade garden in this backyard in Dresher. Species included zig zag goldenrod, white wood aster, fire pinks, blue woodland phlox, alumroot, and some Virginia bluebells. We also planted native honeysuckle, sweet pepperbush, and mapleleaf viburnum.
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We joined the Friends of Glenside Library to add pollinator plants in front of their sign and new plants to the bird habitat at their entrance.
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And then we planted 200+ landscape plugs and a shrub in this Blue Bell yard. Species included aromatic aster, showy goldenrod, foxglove beardtongue, little bluestem, butterfly weed, wine cups, downy wood mint, purple lovegrass, and narrowleaf mountain mint.
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Landscape Plug Sale!
The plants on the right were plugs last year, and some of them came from the leftover plugs that we sold at the end of spring planting.
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We are doing that again on Monday, June 2 from 6:00-7:00pm at Gwynedd Friends Meeting, 1101 DeKalb Pike.
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Plugs will be $5 each. Members receive 1 free plug.
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Species for sale include anise hyssop, blue false indigo, wine cups, rattlesnake master, dense blazingstar, purple lovegrass, alumroot, and aromatic aster.
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Join us for the BioBlitz on June 7!
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Join Journeywork and Wissahickon Trails on Saturday, June 7 from 9:00-12:00 at Gwynedd Friends Meeting to look for insects, scan the trees for birds, and learn to identify trees, mushrooms, and plants. sign up here
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Then go to Doylestown the next weekend for the garden tour!
Buy tickets here to visit five different gardens and support scholarships for Delaware Valley University students and the Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve Internship Program.
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Volunteers from the Bucks County Branch of Woman's National Farm & Garden Association will be at each location to answer questions, and there will be native plants for sale at one of the gardens.
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Weed with us!
- Wednesday, June 4: weed in woodland garden at Gwynedd Friends School, 6:30-7:30 pm register here
- Monday, June 16: meadow management at Plymouth Meeting Friends School, 7:00-8:00 pm register here
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Whitehall Farm Gardens opened at the end of March on Whitehall Road in Norristown. It is a 5-acre retail plant nursery that serves as the new home of Carolyn Walker and Michael Drennan's Carolyn's Shade Gardens, and it also includes native plants grown on-site using peat-free soil and biodegradable pots, as seen in the photo on the right of dwarf crested iris.
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Carolyn and Michael's son, Alex, and his wife, Marielle, are taking over operations of the nursery, and they have brought their tree care company, Practiced Hands Tree Care, to the farm as well.
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They have native perennials, shrubs, and trees and are open Friday-Sunday. Check them out!
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Visit a Blue Bell front yard meadow on July 12
Sara Weaner Cooper, Executive Director of New Directions in the American Landscape, converted her lawn to meadow with her husband and the help of her father, Larry Weaner. Read how they did this here, and email me, paige@journeywork.org, if you want to join Journeywork's tour on July 12, time to be confirmed, probably 9-10:00.
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And finally, some scenes from Journeywork yards where there used to be mulch or turf
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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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