Food and Foliage promotes blue thumb landscaping
The Tree Society of Creemore is hosting a Food and Foliage fundraiser dinner on Nov. 4.
The evening includes a lasagna dinner and guest speaker Shannon Stephens, Healthy Waters Program Coordinator with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority.
Stephens will make a presentation on Blue Thumb Landscaping. She said Blue Thumb Landscaping is water-aware gardening and landscaping with a focus on using native plants that are well adapted to the local environment. When done well – a beautiful, rich ecosystem is created that reduces water use, protects water quality in streams and lakes, attracts birds, pollinators and wildlife and protects groundwater.
To conserve water often drought tolerant plants can be used – they pretty much don’t need to be watered, after you get them established the first year. Also, and increasingly important in a warming climate, is planting along streams, said Stephens.
Creemore is lucky to have the beautiful Mad River flow through it. One of the best ways to help the river is to plant a natural buffer along it. The shade they provide helps keeps this cold-water trout stream healthy, and rich in oxygen. Warm water holds less oxygen. Trout are vulnerable to warm temperature – if the water gets higher than 23˚C – brook trout’s lethal limit – they have to leave the stream reach or die. Also the trees stabilize the banks, preventing soil erosion. The buffer also helps filter out nutrients from lawn fertilizers – which in excess can lead to algae blooms (like the ones Lake Erie’s experiencing now).
“This talk is topical now, because so many landowners in the area are beginning to experience their ash trees dying from the Emerald Ash Borer – so I hope to give people ideas of some great native tree species to plant to replace the loss,” said Stephens.
The event begins at 5 p.m. at Station on the Green. Admission costs $15 per person (which includes the cost of a membership). Tickets are available at The Creemore Echo and at CreemoreVillage Pharmacy.
The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, Oct. 27.
