CARMEL – Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County offer the 2023 Annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale, teaming up again to offer a wonderful selection of trees and shrubs. What’s more, all proceeds of the sale will be dedicated to Cornell Cooperative Extension’s new education center at the Tilly Foster Farm Institute.
The sale offers native trees, shrubs, and perennials that support birds and pollinators. Plants native to our area provide food and shelter for nesting birds and nectar and pollen for specialist pollinators like many of our native bees.
“As worldwide insect populations plummet, our backyards, gardens, and parks can provide vital habitat for pollinators and birds, especially if we choose native plants well suited to our growing conditions,” according to Jen Lerner, Senior Resource Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Vinny Tamagna, District Manager for the Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District added, “A healthy bee population equals a healthy environment, and we all need to be responsible for nurturing nature.”
Be sure to shop before the deadline of March 24. Plants will be sold online only on a first-come first-reserved basis, and there are limited quantities of seedlings and trees. New this year will be cost-effective native plant plugs. These small perennial starts are a thrifty way to create a pollinator habitat. Beautiful flowering shrubs like serviceberry and buttonbush impress with flowers and provide pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies. Fruit trees this year include pawpaws, persimmons, pears, and peaches, a great start for any home orchard.
The seedling sale has a long-standing tradition of planting trees and shrubs that create habitat and protect water quality. Trees reduce the amount of storm-water runoff, which reduces erosion and water pollution while stabilizing shorelines, reducing the effects of flooding.
Please visit the sale’s website to see available plants and wildlife boxes as well as details on the order deadline and pick-up dates. For additional information, please contact Jen Lerner, Sr. Resource Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension: jjs95@cornell.edu, (845) 278-6738.
