Spring Thinking

Native Plants in The Mad River Valley
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​Protect Biodiversity & Build Climate Resilience

Believe it or not, spring is just around the  corner! From our garden layouts, to our tree  planting projects, to our road and driveway  maintenance, now is the perfect time to start  planning. As usual, Friends is working closely  with our town and community partners to line  up projects for the summer. This year, as part of our Storm Smart program (learn more about how we can help you make your property "Storm Smart" here), we are working closely with homeowners to plant native trees  and shrubs.

Native plants offer a huge range of benefits to our community. They tend to have deeper roots than their non-native counterparts. In other words, they do an excellent job of holding in soil and helping rain soak into the ground. They provide habitat for our native wildlife, many of which evolved to have a special relationship with a particular native species. The Monarch Butterfly that graces us each summer, for example, will only lay its eggs on Milkweed plants. It is lucky for us that Vermont has several native variants - around here you might find Swamp Milkweed or Whirled Milkweed.

In general, the healthier and more diverse our forests, the more resilient we are to fluctuations in weather, flooding, and the erosion from rainfall and snowmelt. The temperature this winter has been up and down, with a freezing start in November, and 26 days of warmer than average weather in January. This freeze thaw cycle has meant a lot of water running off frozen ground. Our forests help capture the melting snow before it can run down our roads and deliver sediment and other pollutants to our waterways. Beyond their immediate benefit to the landscape, healthy forests help absorb carbon from the atmosphere by using it to grow and by storing it in the ground when they get old, fall over and decay.

How Can You Get Involved?

Plant Trees On Your Property
​This year Friends of the Mad River will be mobilizing volunteers and working across the Valley to plant trees. We want to help protect and restore the forests that clean our water, protect us from floods, and provide vital habitat to our wildlife neighbors. Most of the land in the Valley is privately owned, meaning it will take a community wide effort to protect our natural resources.

If you want to plant native trees and shrubs on your property, Friends wants to help make it happen. We can help identify good planting sites, species, and help develop a planting plan. We also have some funds available to offset the cost of the plants, and in some sites, pay for all the plant material. Check out our article in the Valley Reporter to learn more.

Learn More about Native Plants
​On Feb 11th at 1pm, Audubon Vermont and Mountain Gardeners are hosting Plants for Birds: Restoring our Community One Garden at a Time at the Big Picture Theatre in Waitsfield. You can learn more about the event via Facebook here.
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Join Gwendolyn Causer, from Audubon Vermont, for a workshop about why native plants matter: What are the threats? What are the solutions? We will explore the four native plant food groups for birds: berries and fruit, nuts and seeds, nectar, and insects. We’ll discover what birds need in all four seasons: food, water, shelter, and nesting locations. Finally, we’ll dive into Audubon’s Plants for Birds Native Plant database and have a conversation about the power of native plants to help grow a better world for birds.

I'm interested in PLANTING TREES

Photos by Brad Long & Corrie Miller