The Cheyenne Habitat Hero Committee invites you to visit three local registered Habitat Hero gardens on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. The addresses are:
* Earl DeGroot and Donna Griffith at 711 Vandehei St.
* Eric Dalton at 909 Foyer Ave.
* Bella Fuoco Wood-fired Pizza at 2115 Warren Ave.
You are welcome to drop by one or all of the gardens during the event. There is no admission charge.
DeGroot and Griffith’s garden recently received Habitat Hero status, but they have plans to add more water-wise native plants for the birds, bees and butterflies. They also have great examples of hail protection and greenhouse design. QR codes displayed in the garden will bring up short videos Earl has made on three different topics, including how to attract hummingbirds. While I was visiting in early July, one came by to work over the “Orange Carpet” creeping hummingbird trumpet flowers.
Eric’s Habitat Hero garden has expanded since he first had it certified a few years ago. One new area is the narrow strip between his house and the neighbor’s, about 4 feet wide. The neighbor gave him permission to also plant their 2-foot width with native flowers and grasses.
Eric also had Bella Fuoco certified. It’s his family’s business, though by Aug. 16 it will have a new owner, Brenna Kosowicz, who invites everyone to see the gardens and the wonderful pollinator murals around the patio. The restaurant will not be open until dinnertime, but volunteers will be available to answer questions.
What is a Habitat Hero garden? The idea started nearly 20 years ago when a woman moved to Colorado and discovered gardening there was not like it was at her previous homes in Florida and Massachusetts. She realized native plants were the best option, being both water-wise and pollinator friendly.
She eventually sought out Audubon Rockies, the regional National Audubon office for Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, for a way to educate people about the advantages and how to convert from thirsty lawns to butterfly and bee-happy blooms.
If you go to audubon.org/rockies/projects/habitat-hero, you will find resources to help you convert your own yard, and the list of required actions to achieve Habitat Hero status.
At the top of the list is describing your property, whether acreage, city lot or apartment balcony or business, school or church.
Next: How many native plants and how many species do you have? This gets a little tricky because some plants put up multiple stems, but estimates are fine.
The rest of the questions are multiple choice, such as “How much of your property has invasive plants?” Less than 5%? Less than 10%? Less than 20%? More than 20%? Your application will be scored as to whether you have achieved bronze, silver or gold status.
So, the more eco-friendly answers you have, the more points you have toward gold status, but if you are just beginning, your enthusiasm is rewarded too, with bronze or silver.
Here are some of the other qualifying questions:
“Which of the following does your garden provide?” Check all that apply:
* Nectar/pollen
* Seeds
* Nuts
* Fruit/berries
* Caterpillars/insects
“How do you eliminate potential hazards to birds?” Check all that apply:
* Treat windows to reduce reflectivity and transparency
* Reduce outdoor lighting at night
* Keep cats indoors
“What additional stewardship activities do you take part in?” Check all that apply:
* Maintain a nest box for birds, bees and/or bats
* Adopt petroleum-free yard maintenance (gasoline-free tools)
* Maintain a wildlife brush pile
* Leave leaf litter on the ground
* When safe to do so, leave dead trees standing
* Avoid deadheading plants immediately after blooming
* Leave dead and dormant native plants standing throughout the fall and winter
* Participate in Lights Out through migration season
* Use a rainwater catchment system
Audubon also wants to know if you take part in any community science projects like Project FeederWatch or eBird, what kinds of educational resources you use, including Habitat Hero workshops like the ones put on every winter in Cheyenne.
What kind of volunteer services do you take part in? Do you invite the neighbors over to see or help you with your garden? Have you helped plant a wildlife garden?
Finally, Audubon wants you to send 10 photos from your garden. Now is a great time to take those photos!
If you’re thinking about starting a native wildflower bed in your front or backyard, let Dalton, DeGroot and Griffith inspire you and answer your questions.
In these times when protections for wildlife are being swept away and letter-writing usually seems ineffective, gardening can make a difference.
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