Speaker Series: Plant it and they will come

Native plants play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems by providing food and habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife. Dr. Tallamy’s research out of the University of Delaware highlights the significant impact that native plants have on bird populations, especially in terms of providing the necessary food for their chicks.

If you’re looking to create an ecologically friendly garden, focusing on native plants is a great start. “Leaving the leaves” is also an important practice, as it helps maintain the natural habitat for many beneficial insects.

Bio – Rick Gray

An avid gardener since the 1960s, but it wasn’t until 2006 that Rick discovered the joys of native plant gardening, a passion that has only grown since. With a strong foundation in Environmental Sciences, an undergraduate degree in Natural Resources Management with a minor in Landscape Ecology, and a master’s degree in Environmental Biology, Rick dedicated many years to teaching Geographic Information Systems (GIS ) and other environmental courses at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus.

He later became the Academic Chair of the Horticulture, Agriculture and Environmental Management programs at Assiniboine College in Brandon, Manitoba, and then served as the Academic Chair at Fleming College’s School of Natural Resources in Lindsay, Ontario. In 2018, Rick retired to devote himself full-time to his half-acre garden, where he nurtures over 300 species of native flowers, grasses, ferns, shrubs and trees. His garden has been featured in several organized garden tours in recent years.

Rick is the principal author of the Globe and Mail’s best seller, The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region, published by Firefly Books. He regularly shares his expertise and insights on native plant gardening through articles on his website https://nativeplantgardener.ca