Gardeners are custodians of the land, and it falls upon us to protect the native animals that live in our gardens, from bats to bugs. A diverse population of wildlife has many benefits in the landscape, including pest control and pollination services. Head Gardener Matt will share ways to encourage native creatures and how to select the best plants for them. The event includes a lecture, garden tour and a bug safari, during which he’ll highlight the many native insects living at Heronswood. Plant and gift shop purchases can be made before and after class. Attendees are encouraged to bring lunch and wander the garden afterwards.

Speaker’s bio:

Matt Jevnikar joined Heronswood in 2019. He received a B.S. in agriculture from The Ohio State University, with a focus on landscape horticulture and a minor in entomology. After many years in northeast Ohio, he set out to explore flora in other parts of the country, from working with regional New England native plants in Massachusetts to maintaining pollinator gardens in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. At home he enjoys spending time with family and distracting them with the smaller creatures and plants that might be overlooked while exploring nature trails.