Start Date
09/11/2021
End Date
09/25/2021
Description
Transform your landscape into a garden that attracts a wealth of beneficial wildlife, including birds, bees, butterflies, and amphibians. Unlock the important connections between the roles of pollinators, the habitats they require, and the plants that feed them. Explore Mt. Cuba Center's naturalistic gardens to observe native bees in action, and discover the best native plants for migrating and resident birds. Learn ways to include water features that support amphibians, damselflies, and bats, and create habitats that sustain wildlife year-round.
Day 1: 10 am - 2:30 pm (4 PDHs)
10:00 - 11:00 am: Introduction to Gardening with Wildlife
11:00 - 12:00 pm: Creating Habitats for Amphibians, Reptiles and Bats
12:00 - 12:30 pm: Lunch
12:30 - 1:30 pm: Tour of Ponds
1:30 - 2:30 pm: Invertebrates
2:30 pm: Class Dismissal
Day 2: 10 am - 2:30 pm (4 PDHs)
10:00 - 11:00 am: Introduction to Bird Gardening and Bird Migration Derek Stoner
11:00 - 12:00 pm: Building Better Bird Diversity with Native Plants Derek Stoner
12:00 - 12:30 pm: Lunch
12:30 - 1:30 pm: Garden Tour
1:30 - 2:30 pm: Hummingbird Gardens
2:30 pm: Class Dismissal
Day 3: 10 am - 2:30 pm (4 PDHs)
10:00 - 11:00 am: Presentation on native pollinators
11:00 - 12:00 pm: Native Bees (demonstration and hands-on activity)
12:00 - 12:30 pm: Lunch
12:30 - 1:30 pm: Presentation on other Beneficial Insects
1:30 - 2:30 pm: Garden Habitat Tour
2:30 pm: Class Evaluations, Native Plant Giveaway and Class Dismissal
Location
Hockessin, DE
Distance Learning
No
Course Equivalency
No
Subjects
Horticulture / Plants
Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Hours
12.0
Learning Outcomes
Students will learn:
1. The importance of water features for attracting wildlife to the garden.
2. Different ways to add water features and the pros and cons of these choices.
3. What are amphibians, their role in the ecosystem and habitat features important for amphibians.
4. General life cycle of butterflies and plants that attract them.
5. The value of pollinators in the ecosystem particularly native bees.
6. Different types of native bees and habitats that sustain them.
7. Other beneficial insects and their habitat needs.
8. Key elements of bird friendly gardens and how to structure the garden to mimic natures habitats.
9. Interesting facts about hummingbirds: life cycle, migration patterns and plants to support them.
10. Bird migration, different types of migrants, food sources and threats to their survival.
Instructors
Faith B. Kuehn; Derek Stoner; Ian Stewart
Course Codes
GAR312
Provider
Mt. Cuba Center