Workshops demonstrate how to attract birds, butterflies with landscaping

Gardening guru Pat Sutton is giving a series of four Gardening for Wildlife Workshops at the Nature Center of Cape May.

In the series, Sutton will show property owners how to enhance their backyard landscaping to welcome wildlife through the use of native plants and wildlife-friendly practices.

The workshops run 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays.

On Oct. 22 the topic will be “How to Create a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife.” The Nov. 5 workshop will feature “How to Create a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden,” and the subject of the Nov. 12 session will be will be “How to Create a Wildflower Meadow and Wildlife Pond.”

The series concludes Nov. 26 with “Battlestar Backyardia: Battling the Alien Invaders - How to Deal with Invasive Species.” This final workshop deals with a key issue, Sutton said: learning to identify invasive problem plants and how to rid the garden of them. Participants will be shown how to plan their own backyard, no matter how small, to attract hummingbirds, monarchs and other butterflies, nesting birds such as bluebirds, wintering birds, and more.

Handouts will include a list of the native trees, shrubs and vines most utilized by wildlife and a list of primary book and Internet resources.

Early winter is the perfect time to begin planning next year's gardens, order plants and seeds, and dream of the garden to come, Sutton said.

The first workshop is the backbone to the series and will supply a good foundation for the following sessions, she said, urging participants not to miss it.

Each workshop will include a question-and-answer session and a visit to a nearby backyard habitat. During a working lunch, participants will have the opportunity to discuss their gardens.

Sutton advised participants to download, print and read her articles for NJ Audubon, "How to Create a Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden" and "Recommended Plantings to Attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies, and Moths," at http://www.njaudubon.org.

The cost of each workshop is $35 or members and $45 for nonmembers or all four for $125 for members or $150 for nonmembers. Registration is required.

The workshops will be held at the Nature Center, 1600 Delaware Ave., Cape May.