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Love Your Alley - What Should You Plant in Your Garden?

Five Keystones and Five Invasives with Debra Knapke

A biodiverse selection of plants in our gardens and landscapes is essential, but how do you choose what should be in your garden? Debra Knapke explores 5 keystone plants and 5 invasives to avoid.

A biodiverse selection of plants in our gardens and landscapes is essential, but how do you choose from the vast array of plants that are available to us? You can create a firm foundation by starting with or adding keystone plants. By planting oaks, goldenrods, and asters you offer ecosystem benefits to wildlife and to yourself. On the other hand, there are invasive plants – plants that cause environmental and economic harm – that you need to reject and eject from your garden. You’ve heard about Amur honeysuckle and Callery pear, but there are many others that are just as persistent. Join us for a presentation by Debra Knapke and discover what should and should not be in your garden.

About the Presenter:

After two other careers, in 1992 Debra Knapke turned her avocation of plant study and gardening into her full-time career. Known as “The Garden Sage”, Debra is passionate about gardening, sustainable garden design and the natural world, and enjoys sharing knowledge through her writing, public speaking, and garden consulting in the private and public sectors. She has served on various local and national committees and boards that focus on education, the environment, and sustainability. She has championed those passions during her two-year term (2014-2016) as Honorary President of the Herb Society of America and as the Co-Chair of the Sustainability Committee of GardenCommn. In addition, she mentored the future of the landscape industry at Columbus State Community College for 24 years. She loves being a gardener and has packed an amazing variety of perennials, trees, shrubs, and edible plants onto the 2/3-acre lot surrounding her home.

Library Parking & Entrance Information:

While the library's main entrance is under construction, we remain open. Clear signage will guide visitors to a temporary, fully accessible entrance via a ramp in the southeast alley, leading to the dock entrance.

The library parking lot also remains open, with temporary entry and exit available via Euclaire Avenue only. Parking may be limited, so we encourage you to arrive early and use street parking on Euclaire, Mound, and other nearby streets.

For more information about the Outdoor Reading Room project, visit www.BexleyLibrary.org/ORR.

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