LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Eight gardeners around Lincoln got to show off their hard work Tuesday evening as part of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s annual garden walks.
The nonprofit has been doing garden walks for the past several years in Lincoln and Omaha to educate horticulturalists about Nebraska’s native plant species.
Each year members of the NSA feature those native or well-adapted plants and other sustainable landscaping they’ve cultivated on their properties. The public is then welcome to walk through each garden to learn more about some of the things planted there and how to grow their own.
Karma Larsen, one of the featured gardeners who used to work for the NSA, said she grew up on a farm and really enjoys getting to be out in nature with others.
“It’s hard for me to fathom living life without a yard to work in, play in, have friends in,” Larsen said. “A lot of my plants, I have a lot of natives, but a lot of them are gifted to me from people and a lot of plants have memories connected to people.”
Hanna Pinneo, executive director of the NSA, said the nonprofit sells many of the plants showcased in the walk and helps people to build more water-wise and climate resilient gardens.
“It can feel really overwhelming when you’re thinking about ‘how do I contribute to environmental causes?’ when all you have is just a little space to do it,” Pinneo said. “Planting some natives, converting some lawn from a heavy water need to a less water need, all these things can give you ownership and a chance to feel like you’re making a difference.”
This year’s garden walks were shifted from September to July in order to show off the full summer bloom of different species.
Tickets are sold for the walk to help raise money for the NSA, and Pinneo said that money goes right back into tree planting, garden making and environmental education outreach work all across the state.
The next one takes place July 15 in Omaha, and will feature nine different gardens.
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