SPRING LUNCH & LEARN

Layering your Landscape: How Native Plants & "Benign Neglect" Enrich our Lives

Thursday, May 14th, 2026

Important Update: 

Due to a family emergency, Janet Davis is not available to present on Thursday, May 14th. In her place, Irvine is excited to welcome Sterling Askin, who works closely with Janet at Hill House Farm & Nursery. Sterling will be a familiar face to many participants, as he has been to Irvine on multiple occasions, assisting Janet in her presentations.

An eight-year veteran of Virginia’s native plant world, Sterling is a graduate of McGill University's School of Agricultural and Environmental Science. He has international experience in farming and resource conservation, with an emphasis on biodiversity.  Sterling's work focuses on harvesting seeds he finds in the wild. In addition to sharing how layering plantings in your native plant landscape adds to the beauty and ease of care of your outdoor space, Sterling will also speak about his work experience at a small native plant nursery and his role in evolving it into one of the largest native plant growers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sterling is passionate about educating others and excited to share this expertise at this Thursday’s Irvine Nature Center's Lunch & Learn.

Lists of native plants are easy to find but knowing how to combine and use them effectively in your own landscape can be much more challenging. In this engaging program, discover how thoughtfully “layering” native plants can transform your yard into a beautiful, vibrant, and wildlife-friendly space.

Learn how to select and combine native plants to enhance the beauty of your landscape while supporting pollinators, birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. We’ll explore how diverse plantings can create a more dynamic garden that requires less formality, less mulch, and less work, while bringing more enjoyment and connection to nature.

You’ll also gain practical tips for incorporating native plants into existing gardens, designing plant combinations that thrive together, and creating outdoor spaces that help us feel more a part of nature rather than apart from it.

Following the luncheon and presentation, Hill House Nursery will be selling a selection of high-quality native plants from her nursery and will be available to answer questions, offer plant recommendations and share expert advice on incorporating native species into your landscape. You can also enjoy a guided walk through Irvine’s Woodland Garden. 

For Adults- 

*Pre-registration required-please register by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, May 13th.*

This event will sell out; please assure your reservation by registering early! 

Time: 12:00 PM -2:00 PM

Location: Irvine Nature Center Tent and/or Fern Rooms

Price: $30 Members (Pacesetter Level or above) / $40 Non-Members