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PUTTING IDEAS TO ACTION: Homegrown Habitats Participants Start Applying Gardening Expertise

In front of Nkhil Nirmel’s Wilmington, Delaware, residence is a charming display of lush, colorful native plants. Vibrant reddish-orange wild columbine blossoms sit alongside blazing star plants that will pop with tufts of purple flowers.

Nirmel is delighted with the recent enhancement of his home and the flourishing plants he acquired this spring.

“I am confident that they will spread, bloom, and become even more beautiful in the near future,” Nirmel said.

Nirmel not only has native plants growing at his home, but now he knows how to keep them healthy and why they’re good for the environment, thanks to a program called Homegrown Habitats. Homegrown Habitats is one of PDE’s efforts to promote home gardening using native plants.

Native plants are relatively easy to cultivate and naturally resilient due to their local soil and climate adaptation. Their robust root systems effectively capture stormwater, aid groundwater recharge, and provide habitats for essential pollinators like birds, bees, and butterflies.

Photo above: Nkhil Nirmel shows off some native plants growing in a planter by his Wilmington, Delaware, home. Nirmel got the plants through PDE’s Homegrown Habitats initiative, which teaches the benefits of gardening at home with native plants.

Last fall, the Homegrown Habitats Program featured gardening workshops that explored the ecological benefits of native plants and provided guidance on selecting plants suitable for shade or sunlight. PDE encouraged workshop participants to translate their knowledge into action this spring by providing plants for their yards and containers.

A Wilmington resident happily shows off the native plants she received from PDE’s Homegrown Habitats Program. Last fall, PDE taught residents about the benefits of gardening at home with native species, and this spring, attendees were given some plants of their own to put their newfound knowledge into practice.

A Wilmington resident happily shows off the native plants she received from PDE’s Homegrown Habitats Program. Last fall, PDE taught residents about the benefits of gardening at home with native species, and this spring, attendees were given some plants of their own to put their newfound knowledge into practice.

Tomisha Street is a Wilmington resident who participated in the workshops with her family and found the gardening advice valuable, particularly the tips on mosquito control.

“Discovering that mosquitoes dislike moving water inspired me to consider a running bird bath to combat pests and enhance bird watching!” Street said. “Everything I learned has been incredibly beneficial, as this is all new to me. My partner has gained valuable knowledge to maintain our outdoor space.”

Later this year, PDE plans to offer the Homegrown Habitats Program to residents from Chester, Pennsylvania.

PDE received financial support for this program from the EPA under an Assistance Agreement funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

CLEAN WATERS: W1.3 / W1.4 STRONG COMMUNITIES: C1.2/C2.3

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