Learn about native plants and pollinators in our community by joining Deepika Saksena and Juliet Cain Darien Pollinator Pathways in a Zoom webinar from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday in an event sponsored by Darien Library.
— an announcement from the library
Native plants and pollinators are an essential part of creating a healthy habitat. Native plants provide food and shelter to an array of butterflies and moths, which are often dependent on specific native plant species.
You’ll learn about native plants and pollinators in our community, how we can encourage them to thrive and how you can become a citizen scientist with the iNaturalist App and assist Pollinator Pathways’ ongoing pollinator habitat research by tracking native plants and pollinators in our area.
About the Presenters
Deepika Saksena is a co-founder of the Darien Pollinator Pathway. She is an accredited organic land care professional certified by CT NOFA and is on the board of the Darien Nature Center. She is an environmentalist with a special interest in organic gardening and farming.
She has an ever-evolving organic native garden that she started in 2010 to provide a native habitat for the birds, butterflies and other pollinators. She practices near zero-garbage and is actively involved in efforts to reduce the use of disposable single use items. She is also actively involved in promoting poison free food production and a poison free environment.
Juliet Cain is a co-founder of the Darien Pollinator Pathway with Deepika Saksena. She too is an accredited organic land care professional certified by CT NOFA. She is Chair of the Beautification Commission for the Town of Darien and, as such, has initiated a number of new public gardens using solely native plants.
She is Assistant Chair of the Horticulture Committee of the Garden Club of Darien and Zone Representative for the National Affairs and Legislation Committee and the Conservation Committee of the Garden Club of America.
She leads the Propagation Team for the Darien Community Association Greenhouse Group which grows plants from seed for an annual plant sale, the proceeds from which are used to fund college scholarships for high school students. (The native plant selection in the Greenhouse has been steadily increasing under her watch!)
Nick Levinson is a senior at Darien High School. He plays on the DHS Rugby team, he is an AP scholar in Physics and Biology, he enjoys being outdoors and has a special interest in nature and biodiversity. He is joining Colby College in Maine to study Biology with a focus on ecology.
Lauren Mason is a senior at Darien High School. She volunteers at the Maritime Aquarium in her free time and enjoys being outside as much as possible. She is attending College of Charleston with a major in Marine Science and studying in London for the fall.
Wesley Wayland is a senior at Darien High School and will be going to Umass Amherst College of Natural Sciences in the fall. Wesley plays in the orchestra and is on the rugby team.
If You’re Attending …
This event will take place on Zoom. You will receive an email confirming your registration with a link to join the Webinar after you register for the event.
Need help registering? Email Erika at ewalston@darienlibrary.org.