Kick off summer at the 3rd annual Native Plant Festival presented by Wayside Furniture! Learn how to welcome wildlife into your yard with beautiful and beneficial native plants.

Join Summit Metro Parks staff and local native plant nurseries at Munroe Falls Metro Park (521 S. River Rd., Munroe Falls) to discover the vital role of native plants in our ecosystem. Browse a wide variety of plants available for purchase or attend an educational session to learn how to incorporate native plants into your landscaping.

Visitors can receive a FREE seed packet or seedling while supplies last!

10 – 11 a.m. INVITING BIODIVERSITY TO YOUR BACK YARD What do butterflies, birds, fireflies and even salamanders have in common? They all need food, water, shelter, and space to thrive. We’ll discuss best practices to turn your back yard of any size into a well-rounded wildlife oasis for a variety of beloved native animals using a combination of native plants and wildlife-friendly features.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. BACKYARD BIRD BUFFET Birdseed is not the only way to feed your backyard birds! Did you know it takes over 6,000 caterpillars to feed one clutch of chickadees? Join a naturalist to discover how native plants can attract delicious insects to your back yard and create a diverse backyard bird buffet!

1 – 2 p.m. USING NATIVE PLANTS FOR SOFT LANDINGS Learn about the native plants that provide critical shelter and habitat for one or more life cycle stages of moths, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Consider adding these plants below trees in your own Wild Back Yard!

2 – 2:30 p.m. MAKING SEED BOMBS Learn how to make fun seed “bombs” using native seeds, soil, clay, and water. These seed bombs will easily and quickly disperse seeds into a garden or green space, creating beneficial habitats for wildlife!

Nurseries & Vendors: • Auburn Native Plants • Avonlea Gardens • Genius Loci • Maple Leaf Gifts • Meadow City Nursery • Native Roots • Natives in Harmony • Powell’s Native Wildflowers • Revolution Native Plants • Riverside Native Trees • Western Reserve Heritage Seed Co.

Partner Organizations: • Elsa Higby Consulting • Native Landscapes and Gardens • Summit County Master Gardeners • Summit Soil and Water Conservation District • The Nature Conservancy • Wild Ones – Cleveland Chapter

Why should we grow native plants?

Humans are a part of nature, too. When our surrounding ecosystem is healthy, it helps us thrive as well. Together, we can provide habitats for our wildlife to counteract the effects of habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. At Summit Metro Parks, we’re your back yard. And what you do in your yard can help us continue to improve the sustainable management of our natural resources.

Event Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1008117254246596