Gardening enthusiasts enjoyed a day exploring five home gardens in the Hamburg area, while making a difference for the monarch butterfly.
Hamburg Community Wildlife Habitat Committee of the Our Town Foundation hosted its 5th annual Garden Tour on June 25.
The tour began at Hamburg Park. Hamburg Mayor Peter Kalabisko proclaimed June 25 as Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Day in the Borough of Hamburg as a day to honor the monarch butterfly.
“I urge all residents of the community to do their part by planting milkweed, the exclusive food source for monarch larvae, so that every parcel of the property in Hamburg may contribute to the survival of the monarch butterfly,” said Kalabisko.
In the proclamation, the Mayor said that 20 years ago, more than one billion Eastern monarch butterflies migrated to Mexico, but in winter 2014, only 60 million made the trip.
“Cities, towns and counties have a critical role to play to help save the monarch butterfly, and the Borough of Hamburg has played a leadership role by launching Milkweeds for Monarchs,” proclaimed the Mayor. “Every citizen in the Hamburg area can make a difference for the monarch by planting native milkweed and nectar plants to provide habitat for the monarch and pollinators in locations where people live, work, learn, play and worship.”
Milkweed seeds were given out to garden tour participants. Hamburg Community Wildlife Habitat Committee members also distributed literature on monarch conservation and a garden plant list.
“(The purpose of the tour is) to inform people about pollinators, the need for pollinator plants. Specifically this year is to try to save the monarchs so we’re pushing milkweed and pollinator plants,” said Sheryle Delewski of the Hamburg Community Wildlife Habitat Committee.
According to the event release the National Wildlife Federation has been asking cities and municipalities to help address the declining monarch butterfly population by declaring a Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. Also, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Interior designated June 20 to 26 as National Pollinator Week to address decline in pollinator populations.
Five gardens in Windsor Township, Hamburg Borough, Tilden Township and Upper Bern Township showcased a variety of elements including low maintenance islands, native plants that attract pollinators, organic vegetable gardens, spiral herb and keyhole gardens, wooded gardens, tea patches, hanging baskets, and wetland garden. Delewski noted that since the tour was held three weeks later than other years many lilies were blooming.
“Most of the gardens are certified with the National Wildlife Federation,” said Delewski.
Committee Chairperson Kay Greenawalt said they have so many certified gardens. They try to showcase five of the gardens, limiting the number on the tour due to time constraints.
“We try to show uniqueness. Some of them have ornate things and some are very simple,” Greenawalt said.
She hopes that garden tour attendees realize that using native plants will attract pollinators.
“Without the bees and butterflies, we’re not going to have food, ” said Delewski.
“We want to show people that anybody can attract wildlife to their yards, be it big or small,” said Greenawalt, noting that the tour is a good way to education people while showcasing local certified gardens.
“Hamburg was the first community (in Pennsylvania) to be certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a community habitat five years ago,” said Delewski.
Jolee and Steve Keifer, Our Town Foundation Board president, welcomed tour attendees to their Hamburg garden, which featured an organic vegetable garden and terraced flower beds including cone flower and pink lilies. Their garden is certified with the National Wildlife Federation and many of their plants, such as butterfly weed and milkweed, that attract pollinators like birds, bees and butterflies. Steve likes that the tour offers an event for people of similar interests.
“We get to talk about flowers and plants with other people with similar interests,” said Steve. “We see a lot of wildlife here.”
He hopes visitors gain an appreciation of Hamburg area and enjoys sharing their garden with people.
“I also hope they see things that they like and look for themselves,” said Jolee.
“Just about everybody I talked to today also has a garden,” said Steve.
Cindy Spayd sat in her garden in Tilden Township spinning during the Garden Tour. This was her third year participating. Many were surprised at how much she compacted into a small yard garden hidden behind a white fence.
“I love meeting all of the people that come to see it. It’s fun. And getting to talk to people who are interested in gardening. Sometimes you feel like you’re in an oasis. Sometimes you feel like your garden is different from most people’s lawns,” she said, hoping people get ideas for their own properties.
Her wildlife garden includes ponds, frogs, chickens and nesting birds as well as shaded garden paths.
Friends Leona Moyer, Windsor Castle, and Tami Myers, Kutztown, enjoyed exploring gardens together, along with Myers’ husband Linton.
“I absolutely love color,” said Myers, who gardens. “It gives me ideas for things I want to do.”
“I do flower gardening and my husband does vegetable gardening so you get a lot of tips and ideas,” said Moyer.
“It’s good to get out with friends,” said Myers. “We’re outdoor girls.”
“We see the same people year after year,” said Moyer.
George Holmes and his wife Charlotte Golden from Hamburg enjoyed talking with other garden enthusiasts.
“Beautiful day to come out and talk to people, share plant stories. Couple people have offered to swap plants with us. It’s a good way to network with other gardeners,” said Holmes.
For more about the National Wildlife Federation, visit http://www.nwf.org/.
