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HOMEGROWN HABITATS PROGRAM AIMS TO MAKE WILMINGTON GARDENS GROW

By PDE’s Delaware Community Assistant Coordinator Kristie Arlotta

Doyou love the color of purple coneflowers and the butterflies they bring? How about blue flag irises and how they brighten up a garden? These plants are just some of Delaware’s native flowers that are beautiful, easy to grow, and help improve local habitat. Wilmington, Delaware, residents can grow these plants for free through the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary’s (PDE) recently launched Homegrown Habitats program.

Homegrown Habitats aims to provide free native plants to those who want to beautify their outdoor space while improving habitat, air and water quality, and health. Every inch of green space, even in urban areas, makes a difference to the environment. Because native plants are local and adapted to their present environment, they are easier to grow, require less water and maintenance, and tend to be naturally hardy. In addition, they’re beautiful and create habitats for birds, pollinating insects such as butterflies and honey bees, and other wildlife.

PDE will work with Wilmington residents to create simple and engaging habitat-friendly gardens. The program offers expertise in planning a garden and free plants that best suit a resident’s outdoor space, from patio planters to pollinator gardens, shrubs, and trees. Those interested in participating in the Homegrown Habitats program must live within Wilmington city limits and attend two project planning workshops

This is one way PDE is leveraging Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding to support emerging communities in alignment with the EPA Justice40 Initiative. This program is addittionally supports Habitat for Humanity projects in Wilmington.

STRATEGY C2.2: UTILIZE EVENTS TO INCREASE STEWARDSHIP AND ENGAGE NEW PEOPLE

Haywood from PDE continued from page 2

Through her research, Haywood became aware of PDE’s mission of connecting people, science, and nature for a healthy Delaware River and Bay. Haywood truly believes animals and people need a healthy estuary for drinking water, industry, food, and fun. She loves the outdoors and animals and is sincerely concerned with conservation issues, feeling that we all have a responsibility to do our part to respect the planet and keep it healthy for generations to come.

Last year, during a youth retreat, Haywood participated in a beach cleanup and became greatly concerned by the condition of some of our local beaches because of careless people who left trash and other debris behind. She found it greatly rewarding to do her part to help keep our shorelines clean and became committed to this cause. Haywood is excited about the work PDE does and is proud to be able to provide the donation from the Morgan Family Foundation.

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