Watsonville Wetlands Watch presentation 6:30 to 9 p.m. Pajaro Valley High School Cafeteria
Richard Merrill
On Thursday, March 20, the Watsonville Wetlands Watch is hosting local horticulture expert Rich Merrill, who will take us on visual tour of his own beautiful and fascinating backyard in Scotts Valley. He’ll describe the plants and microhabitats, including the “hardscape” microhabitats in water elements, rocks/boulders, mulch, etc., best suited for attracting and nurturing beneficial insects and other useful garden creatures.
Backyard habitats—created with both native and “exotic” plants—are delightful spots where you and your family can enjoy attractive plants, birds, beneficial insects, native bees, butterflies and other animals. Since many vegetables and herbs can also attract and feed beneficial wildlife, habitat gardens can also serve as a source of food for the family. And not least, they conserve water and support biodiversity—both essential to everyone’s long-term well being.
Rich Merrill is Rich is founder and former director of the Horticulture Program at Cabrillo College, where he taught for 30 years. At Cabrillo, he established the popular Cabrillo College Mother’s Day Plant Sale, now in its 34th year. Richard also helped to design and facilitate Cabrillo’s 11-acre Environmental Horticulture Center and Botanic Gardens. He has written several magazine articles on gardening and books including The Gardener’s Table: Growing and Cooking Vegetables Naturally (TenSpeed Press); Radical Agriculture, (Harper & Row); and Energy Primer: Solar, Wind and Biofuels, (Delta.)
The presentation is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Pajaro Valley High School Cafeteria at 500 Harkins Slough Road in Watsonville. Admission is free but you must reserve a seat online at www.watsonvillewetlandswatch.org or by contacting Kathy Fieberling at 831-345-1226 or kathy@watsonvillewetlandswatch.org