Conserving water by harnessing your landscape is the topic of “The Power of Plants,” the third program in the WaterWise series offered by the Harpswell Conservation Commission. This program will offer the chance to learn from experts what you can do to harness the power of plants on your property. To learn how you can plan and nurture your plantings to keep water on your land, come to this session on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Harpswell Community School.
At 10 a.m., speakers will open the program indoors. Landscape designers Jaimie Hark and Gavin Boyce-Ratcliffe and retired arborist Tim Vail, Harpswell’s town tree warden, will provide an overview of creating or maintaining healthy vegetation suitable for Harpswell’s climate. For example, what are the benefits, costs and aesthetics of growing storm-resistant trees and drought-resistant shrubs or meadows? How do you do that?
At 11 a.m., participants will have a chance to see informal demonstrations, ask questions, pick experts’ brains, see a homemade rain barrel, learn about the Wild Seed Project and the Harpswell Invasive Plant Partnership, and see examples of invasive plants and better choices offered by local nurseries.
By cultivating healthy trees, gardens and yard plants, you can slow runoff, decrease erosion and allow water to seep into our groundwater reservoir.
