Invasives Out – Natives In
Becky Gallery, President, Garden Club Federation of Maine
Becky Gallery, President, Garden Club Federation of Maine Photo courtesy of Becky Gallery
Luncheon Buffet at 11:30 A.M.
Program at 12:30 P.M.
Birch Bay Retirement Village,
25 Village Inn Road, Bar Harbor
The Bar Harbor Garden Club welcomes Becky Gallery, President, Garden Club Federation of Maine (GCFM) as the guest speaker for its December meeting on Thursday, December 11th at Birch Bay Retirement Village, Bar Harbor. Mrs. Gallery’s presentation will focus on a new initiative: “Invasives Out – Natives In.” This program encourages gardeners, landscapers, and communities to prioritize native plants in Maine’s landscapes, supporting local ecosystems and building on the previous “Rethink the Lawn” campaign that was led by Karen Rea, the former GCFM president. Native plants play a vital role in sustaining Maine’s wildlife, but their growth is often threatened by invasive species. To address this challenge, Mrs. Gallery will explain how this initiative introduces the four “R’s” for habitat recovery:
- Recognize invasive species through educational outreach and identification programs.
- Remove invasives using effective, timely control methods.
- Replace cleared areas with native plants to restore and enhance wildlife habitats.
- Repeat removal efforts as needed, ensuring ongoing management and success.
As GCFM President, Mrs. Gallery is continuing the focus on the careful management of our gardens and landscapes by putting native plants at the forefront to support our native Maine species.
A graduate of Penn State University (B.S. in Education) and Widener University (M.B.A.), Mrs. Gallery is also a certified Master Gardener. She and her husband Pat retired to Harpswell, ME in 2008 where she joined the Harpswell Garden Club and became club president in 2013. In addition to volunteering with several local organizations, Mrs. Gallery has held various leadership positions within the Garden Club Federation of Maine, and she is now serving as president. Her love of gardening keeps her active year round, between planning garden activity and nurturing the flowers in the gardens she tends.
Following the Holiday Luncheon, Mrs. Gallery’s presentation will begin at 12:30 P.M. and will include time for questions.
The Bar Harbor Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Maine.
This informative program is one of the monthly programs offered by the Bar Harbor Garden Club that is open to the public.