scbg 7 17 dsc 5679Photo of the Silva Creek Botanical Garden (Photo by Elroy Limmer)The Gila Native Plant Society has developed a four-part online course, "Landscaping with Native Plants," which will be available this summer. Thanks to the generosity of Western New Mexico University, the course will utilize WNMU’s online teaching platform, Canvas. Students will be able to access the videos of the four modules at any times at their convenience between July 15 and September 15, 2020.  Canvas also makes it possible for students to have written interactions with their instructors.

The four modules will cover these aspects of landscaping with native plants:

* Students will learn about the variety of plants (trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous perennials, cacti, etc...) that can be used to create a landscaped garden or space. Native plants highlighted will include those in the Silva Creek Botanical Garden. (Instructor: Elizabeth Kaido)

*  Students will be introduced to basic principles of landscape design. (Instructor: Jeff Boyd).

*  Students will learn how to plant, prune and care for their native plants. (Instructor: Elroy Limmer).

*  Students will take a virtual tour of local environments landscaped with native plants. (Depending on Covid-19 conditions, students may be offered a live tour of gardens in addition to the virtual tour.)

Course cost will be $25, including a copy of the new GNPS brochure, Beginner's Guide to Planting Native Perennials of the Gila Region, which describes 26 native flowering herbaceous perennials that are well adapted for natural gardening in the Silver City area.

There are two ways to register: 

Send a request and a check for $25 made out to the Gila Native Plant Society to GNPS, PO Box 457, Silver City, NM 88062. The information needed: first and last names, email address and mailing address (to receive the Beginner’s Guide). (If you wish, you may reserve your registration first via gilanative@gmail.com). 

Or go online to http://gilanps.org/education/classes/ and pay by PayPal; make sure PayPal has your current email and mailing address.

Whether or not you decide to take the course, please feel welcome to visit the Silva Creek Botanical Garden, located on Virginia Street two blocks north of 180, for planting inspiration or just for pleasure. And those not taking the course can purchase the Beginner’s Guide to Planting Native Perennials of the Gila Region for $5 from Tricia Hurley of Lone Mountain Natives at the Silva City Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, at Country Girls’ Nursery, at the Grant County Art Guild store on Bullard or by mail order through the GNPS website (www.gilanps.org/books/).

The Gila Native Plant Society is committed to promoting education, research and appreciation of the native flora of the Southwest; encouraging the preservation of rare and endangered plant species; and supporting the use of suitable native plants in landscaping. For information on programs, publications and membership, please visit www.gilanps.org.  

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.