Upcoming Events

Spread the Night: Why Artificial Light is Harmful in the Garden.  Did you know our gardens are dying for darkness?  

Yes, gardens prefer life on the dark side at night. But a garden’s darkness is good,  not sinister. Indeed, darkness at night can improve your garden’s ecological function.  

Many gardeners today are trying to work with, not against, nature. We’re learning  more about our garden’s effect on local ecosystems and choosing plants that  support native bees, feed caterpillars of butterflies and moths, and provide birds  with food and habitat.  

We know pollinators are decreasing worldwide due to habitat loss and pesticide use,  and we are creating eco-friendly gardens to help combat this loss.  

But another factor has come to light— namely, artificial light. Too much of it shines  on our gardens at night.  

In recent years, the loss of darkness has disrupted the natural seasonal rhythms of  plants, birds, pollinators, nocturnal wildlife, and humans. Artificial light impacts the  circadian functions of all living things in our environment.  

In her talk, Spread the Night, Not the Light, Phyllis Gricus, horticulturist, award winning landscape designer, and garden writer, will share examples of the  detrimental effects of light pollution on plants and animals. She will also discuss  ways homeowners can assess their impact on the local environment and implement  better outdoor lighting. Just as importantly, she will explain why, unlike other  seemingly unsurmountable environmental issues, the problem of light pollution is  easily solved by each and every one of us. 

Zoom Link

Bio:

Phyllis Gricus is a landscape designer, horticulturist, and unapologetic tree hugger with years  of experience and a commitment to spending time in nature.  

She is the principal of Landscape Design Studio, LLC in Pittsburgh, PA.  Her firm has been dedicated to creating imaginative landscapes that benefit the environment  for twenty-five years.  

She has served as the Consulting Horticultural Director for Kentuck Knob, a residence  designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. For eight years, she  contributed landscape designs to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and several private homes on  the resort's property.  

Her work at Nevillewood Golf Course in Presto, Pennsylvania, introduced many Audubon certified design concepts, such as buffer plantings around ponds to reduce erosion and improve water quality. Creating wildlife habitat in out-of-play rough areas. 

Phyllis is an award-winning writer who has contributed to numerous garden-related blogs and local and national publications as a freelance garden writer. You can read and download articles from Horticulture Magazine, Monrovia, and other publications on her website.  

She speaks and writes about sustainable gardening and landscaping topics to help gardeners  build resilient, healthy ecosystems.