Program Night: Native Plants that Local Birds Love

Monica will present a range of native ground covers, shrubs, and trees that provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for both resident and migratory birds in the Puget Sound area.  Many native plants attracting birds also serve as wonderful habitat for many animal species.  Monica will also talk about efforts encouraging urban, suburban, and rural landowners to landscape with native plants to restore wildlife habitat lost to development.
  
The Washington Native Plant Society seeks to promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington's native plants and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy.  Members of WNPS share their passion and knowledge of Washington's native flora in meetings, field trips, workshops, outreach, stewardship training, and study weekends.  Each year since 2003, the governor has proclaimed Native Plant Appreciation Week the first week of May (April 30-May 6, 2006).  WNPS hosts a website with activities throughout the state offered by garden clubs, nurseries, WNPS chapters, conservation organizations, and more (see "What's New" at the Washington Native Plant Society).
  
Monica has worked for the past 15 years as a research scientist.  She brings her enthusiasm for experimentation home to a 100-year old farmstead in the upper Snohomish River Estuary.  She joined the WNPS as a steward in training to learn methods of naturalizing both riparian areas and uplands for wildlife habitat.  Monica brings her hands-on restoration experience to the public in seminars and workshops on "Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitat." 

We also invite you to a special joint Eastside Audubon / WNPS field trip on Saturday, April 29.  We will be joining Monica Van der Vieren and Len Steiner to seek out birds and native plants west of Ellensburg.  We will explore Hayward Hill, Swauk Creek, and Durr and Wenas Roads, with lunch at a riverfront park.  Please contact Sunny Walter for details, 425-271-1346 or sunny@sunnywalter.com. 

The social hour, meeting, and presentation are free and open to the public.  Invite a friend or anyone who wants to know more about bird-friendly native plants.

Please join us on Thursday, April 27 for Monica’s delightful and informative talk about native plants that birds love. Come at 6:30 for the social hour.  Enjoy a brief monthly meeting and refreshments from 7:00 to 7:45, followed by Ms. Van der Vieren’s presentation.