Habitat Hero – March 2021

Emily Brown

Emily Brown is the 2^nd Quarter 2021 winner of Cape Conservation Corps Habitat Hero Award.  One of the best ways to attract local fauna to your yard and create a welcoming habitat is to plant more natives, then add some natives!  That is exactly what Emily’s plan is.  Eventually she would like her entire garden to be only natives.  Emily recently participated in CCC’s native plant swap.  She agreed to dig up a non-native invasive shrub in her yard (Nandina domestica heavenly bamboo) and CCC replaced them with three natives shrubs (she selected 1 of each Spicebush, American Beautyberry and Sweet spire) and is also planning on adding Winterberry this year.

She has already planted seeds of milkweed in a bed with Echinacea Coneflowers. Rudbeckia Black Eyed Susan’s and a native Hydrangea round out the natives thriving in her garden. Every year she leaves the leaves to create habitat for overwintering insects and a food source for birds and small mammals  Rain barrels on each gutter of the house help to catch rain water and slow it down to prevent runoff. They use the water from the rain barrels to water her plants inside the house and in the garden, wash their hands when they are outside playing or done with outside activities. This past year she took her neighbors real Christmas tree from their curb and put it in her backyard: laying it down in her backyard to provide a habitat and food source for the winter birds and local backyard birds and animals. As it decays and loses its pine needles she plans to chop up the base of the tree and branches and use it as mulch in the garden. The kids put birdseed pinecones ornaments on the Christmas tree over the winter to provide an extra food source for the birds. Emily knows to not use pesticides when trying to provide a safe ecosystem so she has never used pesticides! By adding natives, food sources, nesting areas and having a pesticide free yard Emily has created a beautiful and safe place for the local fauna!  Thank you Emily for being a Habitat Hero!