WEYBRIDGE — Local gardeners interested in native plants can learn more about them in an open house at a Weybridge garden that will be part of the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) free garden tour.
From paths, to ponds, to pocket gardens — from borders, to backyards, to botanical gardens, native plant gardens are a growing trend. The public is invited to join the ELA as it celebrates native plants at designer-guided, homeowner-guided, and self-guided tours of private and public gardens that celebrate the beauty and ecosystem value of native plants and ecological practices.
The tours will be held on two Saturday this summer — June 24 and Aug. 12 — both from noon-4 p.m.
These two ELA Eco-tours will feature gardens designed entirely or primarily with native plants to inspire gardeners with increasing options and applications for native plants; demonstrate that native plant gardens can be beautiful as well as functional; share insights into native plant combinations and gardening techniques; discuss strategies for transforming sections of lawn into a biodiverse landscape; promote native plant gardens as a safe haven for birds, butterflies, and native pollinators; and answer questions about native plants and habitat restoration.
More than a dozen gardens affiliated with the ELA will be open, though most of them are in Massachusetts. But there is a garden right here in Weybridge, Vt., that will be on the tour.
Tours are free but space is limited, so anyone interested is asked to pre-registration (required), after which they will get directions to the garden.
Read more and register at www.ecolandscaping.org/event/celebrating-native-plants/2017-06-24.