Ah, spring!

In Bringing Nature Home, author Douglas Tallamy discusses the tremendous value in sustaining biodiversity in our environments and how planting native species in our own gardens can help preserve the local wildlife - insects, birds and other animals. The health of local wildlife is one of the best indicators of how healthy our environment is for people, as well. And there are simple ways that we can all make a difference - no need to overhaul your exisiting garden!

On Tuesday, February 8th at 10 AM, The Garden Club of Darien will host guest speaker Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy for an event, being held in Darien Library's Community Room. Dr. Tallamy will present ways that we can help preserve wildlife and sustain the planet through our own gardens.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Come and hear how you can make a difference. Then, visit the Research Library on the 2nd floor for a display of sustainable gardening resources at Darien Library.

Click the link below to view a list of additional books.

Also, take a look at these websites that are staples for the novice and experienced gardener!

National Gardening Association
A one-stop website for finding gardening news, expert advice, and educational opportunities, as well as reference resources such as weed finders, plant finders, pest control libraries, food care guides, landscaping calculators, and more. With a Q&A library of over 28,000 gardening questions, answered by 3 garden experts and easy-to-follow how-to videos, the site also offers free newsletters on topic including regional gardening reports, edible landscaping, and kid garden news.

Kitchen Gardeners: A Global Community Cultivating Change
An online community of over 20,000 people who are interested in achieving higher levels of "food self-reliance" through kitchen gardening and sustainable local food. Q&As are arranged by vegetable/fruit, and the site includes recipes, various blogs and foums, and a listing of local "pods" - kitchen gardeners located in nearby communities for easy collaboration.

KidsGardening!
The NGA's kid-focused site helps introduce the conecpt of gardening to youth of all ages, and includes a "parents' primer" and activities for children to create and manage their own gardens, both indoor and outdoor. Also includes lesson plans and classroom stories for teachers.