Are you looking for someone to engage your audience with gardens in a new way?
Contact Daphne at growinggardenhabitats@gmail.com
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Botanic and Garden Talks
I am passionate about native plants, ecology, and learning all the really cool things that plants do, which largely go unnoticed by us. I have been photographing plants and pollinators for years and use this unique catalog of macro photos in my talks. All of the photos on this website are mine (except for the one's I'm in, of course). Compared to other speakers, my focus is on native New England plant species, and the inclusion of relevant botanical and ecological science content to encourage a deeper appreciation for the natural things we see every day. As a trained educator, I strive to use hands-on experiences and physical examples whenever possible. I am available for public speaking programs that range from a short talk to a multi-hour workshop. |
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Here are a couple of examples of past and upcoming talks that might be of interest to your audience.
Talks for: Native Plant Trust, Evening Garden Club of West Roxbury, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, and Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden
- Growing nature's garden: Making a certified wildlife habitat in your own backyard—This presentation includes a quick review of basic ecology and the requirements of the National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat Program for certification. I include many photos showing the transition of my standard lawn yard to habitat supporting 202 species of plants, 61% that are native to the Northeast, and 90+ species of native insects.
- Transforming your yard into habitat—This workshop walks participants through the process of assessing your yard for how well it provides wildlife food, water, cover and nesting resources; identification of common invasive plants to remove; and provides suggestions for native plants and garden modifications to provide more insect pollinator and bird habitat.
- Botany for Gardeners: Plant Form and Function—Plants in essence are composed of roots and shoots. This basic body plan becomes the diversity of leaves, flowers, tendrils, bulbs, tubers, and fruits that we enjoy. This workshop explains how this happens as we explore through hands-on experiences, the diversity of body forms in a selection of common (and not so common) edible garden residents.
- Botany for Gardeners: Flowering Plant Life Cycle--Register for this upcoming workshop at Tower Hill on March 22, 2020 1:00-3:00
This workshop explores the flowering plant life cycle, from seed germination to fruit. We closely examine flower and seed specimens using hand lenses. The focus will be on sexual reproduction and the intricate interplay between plants and pollinators. You will learn about common pollinators to native New England and learn how various gardening practices can impact pollinators and climate change. - Botany for Gardeners: Plant Survival Strategies--Register for this upcoming workshop at Tower Hill on April 11, 2020 1:00-3:00
Ever wonder when to prune plants or why some leaves are red in spring? In this workshop we investigate how plants adapt to threats during the growing season such as competition for light, insect pests, and pruning. The basic internal workings of plants will be introduced to better appreciate how dynamic plants really are in their interactions with each other, other species, and the non-biotic environment.
Talks for: Native Plant Trust, Evening Garden Club of West Roxbury, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, and Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden
