2021 Twining Valley Pollinator Garden Recap: Developing Eco-Friendly Communities ​ It’s always surprising how many people know nothing about ecology and sustainable gardening. Sure, they know about NPK and weeds but beyond that they know very little about maintaining a garden for wildlife and tempering climate change. In 2020, a series of lectures called ‘Eco-friendly Communities’ was given to various groups in our area. The first question we ask is “How many of you have read any of Doug Tallamy’s books?” The last 5 times almost no one had ever heard of him. That is the audience that we feel has the most to gain by not only learning about native plants but by seeing them in action as they draw insects, birds, and other wildlife in for a feast and shelter. ​ With the help of grants from the Woman’s National Farm & Garden Association and the Hardy Plant Society we were able to create a native plant demonstration garden out of a former putting green at the new Twining Valley Park. Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation removed the giant grasses and other non-native plants for us with their heavy equipment. The planting was delayed until September 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions and searing summer heat, but we were able to make great headway until Thanksgiving. In January the 3 giant Yews were removed so we could begin planting shrubs and trees. Hard to get plants were ordered for Spring delivery in early Winter too. ​ When Spring 2021 rolled around we found the weather was quite conducive to planting so we quickly put orders into our local nurseries and began planting. We planted straight through June and decided to just do easy maintenance through Summer. By Summer the plants were happily blooming, and we had large numbers of pollinators, butterflies and birds happily enjoying our work. Many people stopped by to thank us, and some asked to join us as volunteers. As Summer wound down, we began planting the shrubs and trees on the hill where the Yews once stood. We also added perennials in between. Many of us contributed plants from our own gardens to fill in areas that were bare. The hawks came back and ate the rodents that were plaguing us over the summer along with the red dragon flies called Autumn Meadowhawks. Hummingbirds and Monarchs happily feasted on the flowers that were still blooming. It is now Fall, and we are doing our last rounds of weeding and mulching. We’re looking forward to the springtime when the ephemerals and early flowering trees that we planted come alive with color and early pollinators. We also hope to start educational programs onsite and help those that were stricken by the tornados rebuild their gardens with native plants.