Warmer weather have you thinking about your spring garden? Explore the benefits of adding native plants to your outdoor space at McHenry County College’s latest Experts and Insights educational speaker series “The Importance of Native Plants in the Landscape” Thursday, May 19 at 6 p.m. in the College’s Luecht Auditorium, 8900 US Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake, IL. The session will be presented by horticulture and agriculture instructor and department chair Garrett Beier.
“When people discuss the benefits of native plants, they often focus on benefits that can be achieved by non-natives as well,” said Beier. “One major benefit of native plants is their impact on food webs. Many bird species rely on insects to raise their young, and native plants frequently host more insect diversity. Studies have shown that landscapes with more native plants have increased diversity and abundance of insects and bird species. If you want to see more wildlife, plant more native plants!”
Beier is the Department Chair of Entrepreneurial Agriculture and Horticulture at MCC. He teaches a wide variety of courses in plant science, horticulture, and agriculture. Beier grew up working at his family’s greenhouse and nursery in South Dakota. While he has been working with plants for over 20 years, he recently found a passion for native plants.
The session is free and open to the public. Registration is requested but walk-ins are welcome.
Register and learn more at www.mchenry.edu/experts. If you need an accommodation or a sign language interpreter, please contact MCC’s Access and Disability Services department at (815) 455-8766 or disabilityservices@mchenry.edu.
The Experts and Insights series originally started in 2019 as an opportunity for the community to experience the high quality of education and expertise provided by MCC’s faculty as they present topics in their fields of study.