Monday mornings are usually reserved for tired awakenings and the struggle of getting back to the grind.  Well Monday, September 19 was not part of the ordinary way to kick off the week.  Instead, Audubon Rockies and Fort Collins Museum of Discovery hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the latest Habitat Hero demonstration garden.  20 representatives from the various organizations that have contributed to this garden’s success got to see the garden in its entirety and even helped plant 20 additional plants, including blanket flower, desert four o’clock, butterfly weed and fernbush.

This garden has been in the making for over a year and started with the removal of turf grass, installation of a hardscape pathway and planting 75 plants with our volunteers in support of Poudre River Festival in May 2015.  This summer we were able to spruce up the garden by installing a colorful, engaging and informative interpretive sign with a natural rock for seating to invite people to linger in the garden for longer periods of time.

This Habitat Hero demonstration garden creates a naturally evolving project that brings together the expertise provided by staff of various organizations. Working with community partners and members, we can transform this landscape into an ecologically rich and sustainable garden that offers a beautiful space for members of the public to enjoy and learn about nature, bringing these lessons home to their own gardens.  Creating bird-friendly communities is Audubon’s commitment to the sustainability of our urban, suburban and rural places. We can restore and reconnect these places.  We can reestablish the ecological functions of our cities and towns.  Working with community partners and volunteers, we can provide essential, safe habitats for birds.  Engaging these individuals early on in this process, as we’ve done, has built a strong support base for this project. 

The result is a garden that brings a sense of pride to the nearby community, a refuge for relaxation, and a continually evolving outdoor classroom.  From engagement in this project, individuals and businesses become aware of the power of the individual in making a difference in the community. 

A Habitat Hero can be anyone in our community - from a veteran to new-to-the-scene gardeners, adults, kids, businesses, agencies, and schools who create a wildlife-friendly garden.  Learn how you can get involved!

Thanks to our Partners:

• Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
• Gardens on Spring Creek
• Speedpro Imaging
• BATH Garden Center & Nursery
• Clay Pot Creative
• Rock Garden