Barbara is a long-time Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy supporter, having been a member since 2011 and a past board member. Her yard is a certified Wildlife Sanctuary (formerly known as an Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary). Barbara shares her dedication to using native plants in the landscape by volunteering as a knowledgeable native plant person at our native plant sales.

Barbara visiting the native plant garden on the High Line in New York City.

Native plants are Barbara’s favorite thing in nature. She loves them “for the role they play in the web of life and the amazing wildlife, including pollinators, that they attract to my yard.” Barbara admits she has too many favorite plants to list but does mention “Trout Lilies, Spring Beauties, Golden Alexander and ragwort that feed the first emerging pollinators in early spring, to the gorgeous goldenrods, asters, and ironweed that feed the late-flying bees and butterflies in the fall, and the wonderful milkweeds, penstemon, Joe-pye-weed, Black-eyed Susans, and so many others that support pollinators in between.” While she adores them all, she does have a special fondness for butterfly host plants “because of their role supporting the caterpillars of my favorite pollinators while also feeding adult pollinators with their lovely flowers.”

Barbara really enjoys volunteering at the Loudoun Wildlife native plant sales because she loves “helping people find native plants suited to their yard’s conditions so they can succeed in attracting pollinators and other wildlife to their property too.” She encourages everyone to use native plants regardless how big or small their area is by reminding us:

Habitat loss is one of the top reasons for the decline of pollinators and other wildlife, and each of us can create additional habitat on our own property to help reverse that loss. I think that once people see the change they can bring about in their gardens by adding native plants — whether they have a tiny balcony or a large property — to support our local pollinators and other wildlife, they realize that each of us can make a difference and that is a very powerful thing. I often say that it really is true — if you plant it, they will come!

Many thanks to Barbara, and to all our volunteers, for helping make Loudoun a place where people and wildlife thrive together.

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