Habitat Hero – December 2021

Matt and Lenora Puglisi

Each Wednesday I make way from the Serene Ravine to the Deep Creek Piers to dispose of the invasive weeds we have cleared for that week and I began to notice a house just before the entrance of the Deep Creek Pier that had done a remarkable thing—they had removed all of their lawn!  And from what I could tell from my slow ride by they had replaced the lawn with native shrubs and trees.  I didn’t know who lived there so I set out to find out.  After tracking down their names I searched for them on the community FB page with no luck so I posted asking for anyone who knew them to ask them to get in touch with me.  Lo and behold a fellow board member of CCC recognized her name from working together and she connected us.  The Puglisis- Matt and Lenora.  After chatting with Matt one afternoon I knew we finally had our 2021 4^th Quarter Habitat Hero.

Matt knew he wanted to rip out the lawn and replace it with plants so he hired a landscape company with a very specific request, use only native plants in the landscape.  Thankfully they agreed and installed a variety of native shrubs and trees.  Ilex opaca American Holly, Cercis canadensis Eastern Red buds, Amelanchier spp. Serviceberry, Juniperus virginiana Eastern Red Cedars, Vaccinium blueberries, Clethra alnifolia summersweet, Viburnums, Cephalanthus occidentalis button bush and an assortment of ferns all decorate the landscape of their yard, along with mulched paths and a small grass area.  His vision for a “managed forest” is being realized. 

Matt had experience with traditional gardening, vegetable gardening and fruiting trees but he wanted something different, something that would support wildlife, control runoff (as he is close to the waters of Deep Creek), and slow down  the rainwater heading past his property. His choice of flowering and fruiting native trees will also provide habitat and food for our local fauna as well.  Supporting a diverse selection of pollinators, creating a healthy ecosystem and increasing biodiversity are all goals that will be achieved by the choices Matt has made. 

He also made the decision to not use fertilizers and pesticides or other chemicals in his yard.  That will be beneficial to the ecosystem around him.  His choices are based on a desire to cope with climate change, filter and control storm water and provide a healthy habitat.

Long term goals for Matt include replacing the existing driveway with pervious pavers that will allow rain water to soak in and slow down.  He is also setting his sights on the backyard and converting the lawn there to native plantings and removing the invasive English Ivy that is creeping in his yard from the community property behind him. He wants to make a positive impact and create a back (and front) yard oasis that will support many forms of wildlife and create a biodiverse landscape that bees, butterflies, birds and small animals will be safe and cared for.  Thanks Matt for being a Habitat Hero. 

You can tour Matt and all the 2021 winners on June 25^th and see what they have done to be a Habitat and how simple it is to support biodiversity in your own backyard.