Keep Sedona Beautiful will present the 37th Annual Native Plant Workshop on Saturday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the West Sedona School. Doors open at 7:45 a.m.
Registration is now open at https://www.keepsedonabeautiful.org/our-programs/native-plant-workshop.html. The website’s roster of presenter bios and topics makes it easy to register early to ensure a choice of speakers and mini-field-trips. Advance tickets are $35 for the general public and $25 for KSB members and, at the door, $45 and $35. Admission includes two keynote speakers, two presentations out of six topics, breakfast savories, lunch and filtered water. A silent auction offers items donated by the community.
The first keynote will feature avian ecologist Dena Greenwood: “The Ecological Interrelationships between Insects and Birds in Your Garden.” The second keynote will be offered by Jeff Schalau, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension in Yavapai County: “Native and Drought-Adapted Trees: Best Practices for Success.”
The program also includes six one-hour presentations given twice, so participants can choose one in the morning and one in the afternoon:
Chris Anderson will cover “Creating Landscapes That Water Themselves” by using permaculture principles. Anderson worked on organic farms and nature centers around the country and created his own market garden business. He has been gardening in the Sedona area since 2005.
Hattie Braun will introduce “Landscape for Life: A New Approach to Sustainable Home Landscaping” to train homeowners on healthy gardening practices. Braun has lived and gardened in Flagstaff for 23 years and has been the Master Gardener Program Coordinator for Coconino Cooperative Extension for the past 13 years.
Kevin Harding will conduct a walkabout to identify native plants, their uses, and their place in the ecosystem. He was educational director for a land trust, leading docents in nature study, guided walks and evening presentations. Since moving to Sedona nine years ago, he has volunteered with multiple organizations dedicated to the natural environment.
Max Licher will provide “An Introduction to the Importance, Beauty and Diversity of Grasses” in Sedona and the Verde Valley. He’ll give illustrated details about the best natives for planting and re-vegetation, including the worst invasive ones to avoid. Licher, a Sedona resident for 33 years, has documented 1200 species of native and naturalized flora of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon and helps coordinate the Plant Atlas Project of Arizona (PAPAZ).
Sue Smith will present “Wildflowers in the Home Landscape”, highlighting methods for selection and planting for years of carefree beauty. She is currently president of the Prescott Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society. A master gardener, she is earning her Masters in Natural Resource Management at Utah State University.
Shaun Symond will present “Selecting and Planting Native Plants with Demonstration”. He will cover a range of options, from full-size trees to flowers, as well as soil amendments, watering and care. Symond moved to Flagstaff in the late 80’s and saw the need for low-water landscaping, beginning his extensive work with native plants.
Keep Sedona Beautiful, Inc., acting through the stewardship of its members and volunteers, is committed to protect and sustain the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of the Greater Sedona area. For more information and to register, visit the KSB website or call the office at 928-282-4938.