Community-Based Native Gardens: A Panel Discussion

Is your place of worship, school, or community-based organization considering establishing a native plant garden? With careful planning and strategy, you can build a beautiful native garden that attracts both wildlife and people…and that offers unexpected benefits.
Motivations and goals for native plant projects vary by organization. During this moderated panel discussion, we’ll explore the universal factors that drive the success of a native plant garden including having administrative support, acquiring and motivating willing hands to maintain the garden, and developing plans for continuity.

Our panelists have long-standing but very different native gardens. We’ll glean from their successes and challenges as we explore the following:

• Overview of what each panelist’s community group has done with native plantings
• The key supports and structures each panelist’s group has in place that have assured their native plant projects continue to operate\
• The benefits, expected or otherwise, that have come from each of their projects
• Their top tips on starting a native garden within a community-based organization setting

Panelists:

• Susan Fox, Christ the King Lutheran Church, West Chester
• Christine Hansford and Jim Varick, Horizon Community Church, Newtown
• Denise Kushner, Mulberry Elementary School, Milford

What to Expect: This panel-based discussion is entirely indoors. We will take a break midway through (about 3 pm).

Where to Meet: Registered participants will meet in the auditorium inside the Rowe Visitor Center at our Rowe Woods location. (4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, OH 45150)

Cost: Ticket fees include daily admission. (Admission is free on April 27, 2025)