PRESENTATION BY EMAN RASHID by Martha Gotwals
Support native plants was the message from Eman Rashid at the 2/17 gathering of NYC Friends of Clearwater.
Rashid is founder and director of Brooklyn Seeds, supporting community gardens and involving kids in the environment.
What she emphasized was that New Yorkers often don't realize what supports the environment vs. what looks good.
Pretty flowers and plants, she said, aren't necessarily what helps what makes things better for us. Instead, she recommends native plants that draw caterpillars (and butteflies), moths (gasp, along with me) and birds.
These, she said, help support our own natural environment and also do the best for the planet.
Specific recommendations for New York City include native oak and walnut trees and willows, plus a lot of plants categorized as weeds, such as goldenrods, though black-eyed susans rate too, Gotta also include my personal favorite, that helps cure poison ivy, jewel weed. In fact a big part of Rashid's message was to not necessarily reject what people categorize as weeds.
To find out more, Eman recommends the books of Doug Tallamy.
And to learn more about her work or join in, go to brooklynseeds.org.