Planting for Pollinators

Saturday, September 24, 2022
from 10AM to 12PM

Fall is the perfect time to plan out your pollinator paradise! Join Horticulturist, Mishele Stettenbenz to learn why pollinators are so important and why they need our help. Discover how to promote a healthy environment for pollinators in your own yard. Learn to build a pollinator garden and discover the best native and non-native pollinator plants to grow on the Mendocino Coast. This workshop will consist of a PowerPoint lecture and a brief walk through the Gardens to observe pollinator plants at work.

THE DETAILS

• Masks are required indoors and please consider wearing a mask outdoors when social distancing is not possible.
• The class will include indoor instruction and guided field walks. Be prepared for the weather with appropriate layers.
• We recommend bringing along drinking water, a notebook, and a pen.

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION
Class size is limited! Registration for this workshop must be completed in advance online. Please note, all registration fees are non-refundable unless the class has been canceled or rescheduled by the Gardens.

Workshop Registration .............................. $30 per participant and includes Gardens admission for the day

Member Workshop Registration ............ $20 per current MCBG Member*

*Hey Members, we have a new ticketing program! To receive your discounted rate for walk registration (and any other membership discounts), click the "Member Workshop Registration" link and use the form to verify your membership and apply your discounted rate. You can also verify membership using your email address by clicking the blue "Verify with your email address" link to the bottom right of the "Last Name" box. If you are having issues please call our Administrative Offices at 707-964-4352 x 10.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Mishele Stettenbenz's began her career in horticulture 25 years ago. Her fascination with plants took root at Furr's Garden Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. There she sold, ordered, received, helped maintain the plants, and eventually managed the store. During her time at Furr's, Mishele slowly chipped away at furthering her horticultural knowledge, passing the North Carolina Plantsman Certification Test, and working towards an associate degree in Horticulture from Central Piedmont Community College. While working and studying for her degree, Mishele started her own business designing, installing, and maintaining gardens for residential clients. In 2008, she started as a horticulturist at Filoli and worked into a lead position.

Eventually, Mishele decided it was time to relocate to the coast, taking a position at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (MCBG). At MCBG, she was in charge of the Begonia and Fuchsia Collections in the Display House, Heath & Heather Collection, Succulent and Mediterranean Garden, Conifer Collection in the North Forest, carnivorous plants in the Woodland Garden,  and the Heritage Rose Collection. Her main focus was maintaining a wide variety of the wonderful plants that live there, but she largely enjoyed working with volunteers and Community Service Workers. Mishele completed the UC California Naturalist Program in 2021 which changed her focus from largely ornamental plants to our California native plants. She now works for the Mendocino Railway leading the installation and maintenance of a new garden stretching more than 3 miles from the Skunk Train Depot to the Glen Blair Junction. This lengthy garden will feature native plant material and Mishele's fervent hope is that she will be able to do something good for the planet in the time she has left here.