Minimizing Your Maintenance

Want to attract more birds and pollinators, mitigate storm water, and boost biodiversity in your garden? Dreading taking care of all your fall pruning? Wait right there!

Come learn in this 90-minute course on how doing less maintenance in your garden will create a bigger impact for your backyard ecosystem. From container gardens to a couple acres of land, we will explore how to manage your garden for stronger biodiversity. Old seed heads, dead grasses, decaying branches, and leaf litter all play a vital role in keeping your backyard system healthy and thriving. Learn to love your garden through all seasons with the knowledge that you are doing more with less work.

Capacity is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Pricing:
Members: $35
Non-Members: $60

This class will take place in person at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Attendees will be emailed location information the week of the class. The class will begin promptly at 10:00am., so please arrive at the Garden 10 minutes early to allow time to travel to the class location.

About Your Instructor:
Michael (Mike) Shelton is the Natural Areas Supervisor at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. His duties include participation on a multidisciplinary team that implements management actions to improve exhibits and trails and to enhance visitor experience. Mike has an over 32 year career in environmental science in government, university, and private sectors. Prior to coming to the Garden, Mike served the people of Alabama for over 17 years as a Natural Resources Planner at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, a partnership between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He participated in stewardship activities on nearly 10,000 acres of uplands, wetlands, and state-owned water bottoms near Fairhope, Alabama. He served with scientists, outreach specialists, and regulatory personnel to apply current science in the management of coastal resources and in improving decision-making regarding use of coastal lands and waters. Mike earned a master’s degree in Biology at Emory University and an undergraduate degree in Biology at Hampden-Sydney College. He resides now in Huntsville with spouse, Wendy, enjoying outdoor activities, music, movies, and all the amenities of the city and of north Alabama.