by Connie Oswald Stofko
“Your garden is yours, but you’re sharing it with other creatures,” said Laurie Ousley, president of Gardens Buffalo Niagara.
That’s the message Conservation Day wants to share with gardeners.
“Gardening of any kind, style or size has an impact on our environment,” Ousley said. “What kind of an impact do you want to make?”
Conservation Day will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at the north end of the Elmwood Village Farmers Market, on Bidwell Parkway near West Delavan, Buffalo.
A butterfly release by the Eastern Monarch Butterfly and Native Plant Farm will take place at 11:30 a.m.
Ousley is a chair for Conservation Day, along with David O’Donnell of the Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm.
The butterfly release “is just a great experience,” Ousley said. “When the first one flies up into the air, the whole crowd responds. It’s an uplifting experience.
“The butterflies are ambassadors. People come to see the butterflies, and learn a lot of other things.”
There will be something for everyone, including activities for children.
The event wants to reach out, especially to gardeners, to promote sustainability and conservation. Find out more about native plants, invasive species, local wildlife, birds, pollinators, soil health, composting, climate change, a local group you can join and much more.
Groups at Conservation Day include:
- Citizen Coalition for Wildlife and Environment
- Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm
- Erie County Climate Action
- Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Grassroots Gardens of WNY
- Niagara River Greenway
- Oakmoss Education
- Pelion Outdoor Classroom
- The Tool Library
- UB Department of Environment and Sustainability
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Western New York Environmental Alliance
- Western New York Land Conservancy
- Wild Ones WNY
- WNY PRISM
Conservation Day is an event produced by Gardens Buffalo Niagara.
