On the finish of Might 2025, we obtained 2,000+ native plant plugs from Prairie Plains for the landscaping on the Iain Nicolson Audubon Middle at Rowe Sanctuary. We had Rowe volunteers, together with Rowe workers, Prairie Plains workers and Prairie Plains volunteers who aided in serving to us plant all these stunning native crops. From there, we began the Backyard Gang. This group meets each Thursday morning from 8am-10am. The Backyard Gang helps the maintenance of the backyard beds across the Iain Nicolson Audubon Middle. It takes a whole lot of work and a few fantastic volunteers to take care of these stunning plant beds; enhancing not solely the Sanctuary’s look but in addition rising plant range for our birds, bugs, and other people alike to get pleasure from.
Each week, these superior volunteers sort out the weeding (and boy there’s a LOT of weeding) and at instances rescue a few of our younger plugs all through the rising season. Week after week their onerous work helps us to take care of all of the beds, and we’re so grateful!
The panorama was fastidiously chosen by our conservation staff to feel and look like a pure prairie; they fastidiously chosen these crops that naturally mimic the prairie; encouraging and supporting important habitat for sure fowl species. You’ll be able to look these species up in Audubon’s Native Plant Database and in our Crops for Birds program right here at Rowe Sanctuary. These databases present all the knowledge it’s essential choose the most effective crops for the birds in your space. Rising bird-friendly crops will entice and shield the birds you’re keen on whereas making your area stunning, straightforward to take care of and higher for the atmosphere. Discover all our native plant sources right here, together with our reality sheets on creating a native plant garden and how it can save you money. Attracting birds utilizing native crops will be certain that your area is bird-friendly in each method. Go to our Reducing Collisions web page to be taught extra about defending birds from collisions with glass as nicely.
The enjoyable factor about getting concerned with our Backyard Gang is assembly and interacting with different volunteers at Rowe. As well as, you get to be taught extra about prairie plant species and determine them, probably to be used in your house landscaping. We at all times have time digging within the dust! Come and be part of us!
In case you are curious about volunteering at Rowe Sanctuary, please contact Katie Moore, our volunteer coordinator at katie.moore@audubon.org.
