Who: Gardeners of all kinds, renters, and homeowners looking for native plant inspiration

What: It will be an evening of swapping seeds, enjoying light refreshments, and chatting with your neighbors about gardening and ways to incorporate native species! You may also tour the CCD Rain Gardens while you are here! Pens and envelopes will be provided to assist with seed-giving.

Cost: Free!

Rules: Bring seeds that have been bought/grown within the past 4 YEARS, bring growing instructions for seeds you are giving away. It is highly recommended that you bring native seeds to share if you have any you’d like to share/swap, but bringing seeds is not required to participate in this free event, you are welcome to bring nothing and leave with something fun and novel to plant in your garden.

What to bring: Envelopes to give seeds, pens/markers to write, and seeds (if you have some).

When: Thursday, May 16th from 4:00-6:00pm. Come and go as you please.

Where: Clarion Conservation District Office (249 S. 2nd Ave. Clarion, PA)

Why: “Pennsylvania is home to diverse native plants, trees, insects, fish, birds, and mammals that originated thousands of years ago and thrive in mutual dependence. This native ecosystem provides us with natural resources that benefit our lives by enabling agricultural food production, recreation, fisheries, timber, and more.

As humans have increased worldwide commerce and travel, nonnative species have crisscrossed the world with us. When species are transported to areas outside their native range, they have no natural predators. They often invade, crowding out and threatening the survival of native species.

The [Pennsylvania Governor’s Invasive Species] council created Pennsylvania Native Species Day to celebrate the state’s diverse native species and increase Pennsylvanians’ understanding of the importance of protecting them against the proliferation of invasive species.” – Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA)