The tour begins at Native Nurseries, where we will form carpools. Come early, at 8:45, if you would like to see Native Nurseries’ Secret Garden, where the mountain laurel should be in full bloom. We will divide into two groups. One group will visit the yard of Ann and Don Morrow, which provides an excellent example of how to create and manage a healthy urban forest. They have seen 88 species of birds in their yard and have heard or seen another 34 species fly over the property.

The other group will go to the home of the retired co-founders of Native Nurseries, Donna Legare and Jody Walthall, to see how their yard has changed over 30 years of planting native plants. Their typical in-town suburban home featured 100% non-native landscape plants other than the large trees when purchased in the early 1990s. They will discuss how to manage a mostly native yard for wildlife, while making it attractive to neighbors as well.

The two groups will then switch yards so that everyone will tour both yards. The two groups will then reconvene as one group at the home of Jim Stevenson and Tara Tanaka, which features a 45-acre swamp with an active wood stork rookery – so bring your binoculars. They have managed the property through the planting of a diversity of native trees and shrubs. Their backyard is designed to enhance the view of the swamp for wildlife observations while providing food and cover for birds and other wildlife. A light snack will be served at Jim and Tara’s as we regroup. We should return to Native Nurseries by 12:30pm.

Group size is limited, and reservations are required. Please call or text Donna Legare at 850 386-1148. Payment needs to be made by check (made out to Birdsong Nature Center) or cash and mailed or dropped off at Native Nurseries, 1661 Centerville Rd., Tallahassee, FL  32308.

$15 All funds support Birdsong Nature Center’s Butterfly/Pollinator Garden