Free Native Pollinators Webinar Series Hosted by Great Swamp

Create a haven for pollinators

MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY (January 15, 2024) — Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) announced today they will host four free webinars focused on native plants and the essential role pollinators play in the ecosystem. Led by nationally acclaimed experts, these monthly hourlong programs lead up to the organization’s fourth annual, online Native Plant for Pollinators program that runs April 1-19, 2024. An additional Q&A webinar is scheduled for mid-April. Registration and information can be found at GreatSwamp.org or 973-538-3500.

“Whether you’re looking to start, add to, or amend your native pollinator garden, these professionally led webinars offer something for gardeners of every level,” stated Hazel England, GSWA Director of Education and Outreach. “Each talk in this series will build your knowledge of different groups of pollinators and how to support them throughout the year beyond just planting our fabulous native plant plugs.”

Each webinar will offer a different component of pollinators and the pollination process. Following are the webinar dates, topics, and associated speakers along with plant program info:

January 18, 7-8 PM: Creating a Woodland Garden with Indigenous Plants & Vertical Structure. Speaker: Jean Epiphan, agricultural resources agent and assistant professor with Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Morris County.

February 15, 7-8 PM: Plug in to Native Groundcovers. Speaker: John Courtney, owner of Kind Earth Nursery.

March 13, 7-8PM: Pollinator Conservation: Creating and Protecting Habitat for NJ’s Bees, Butterflies, and Biodiversity. Speaker: Kelly Gill, Pollinator Conservation Specialist from Xerces Society.

April 1, 12-1 PM: GSWA Native Pollinator Plant Program Overview. Speaker: Hazel England, GSWA Director of Education, Outreach, and Land Stewardship

April 1, 1 PM through April 19, 5 PM: GSWA’s online Native Pollinator Plant Program. Order pickup dates are May 3-4 with 13 local location options. A preview of the 37 individual species and 6 redesigned kits available for purchase will be available mid-March.

April 11, 7-9:30 PM: New this year is a follow-up Plant Program Panel Q&A Zoom webinar. Three experienced, local native plant enthusiasts will answer questions and share advice on selecting, planting, growing, and sustaining native plants.

“Our goal for these webinars and this year’s Plant for Pollinators Program is to inspire the widespread adoption of native plant gardens across our region,” said England. “These gardens play a crucial role in providing essential habitats for pollinator insects and bird communities. Together, we’re turning private yards into what renowned lecturer and entomologist, Doug Tallamy, affectionately terms a ‘Homegrown National Park™.’”

Operated by the Great Swamp Watershed Association and its Community Plant Sale Partners, the Native Plant Program is supported by promotional efforts and volunteers from 16 local towns and 8 non-governmental organizations. For additional information and to register for these free webinars, visit GreatSwamp.org.

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About the Great Swamp Watershed Association

For over 40 years, the Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the water resources of the Passaic River region, from the Great Swamp headwaters to Newark Bay, for present and future generations. Through education, advocacy, science, land preservation, and stewardship, in collaboration with partners, we work to instill our communities with an awareness of water’s effect on health and the beauty of the environment, from source to sea.  The organization educates over 3,000 school children, monitors over 30 stream locations, and holds approximately 40 public events each year.

For more information about the Great Swamp Watershed Association, visit www.GreatSwamp.org.