The Manada Conservancy and Derry Township in Dauphin County are hosting a presentation on February 7 on using native plants to create sustainable landscapes at the Hershey/Derry Township Historical Society, 40 Northeast Dr., Hershey starting at 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Debra Kirkpatrick will discuss how invasive non-native plants become a detriment to the natural environment along with the new reality of more municipalities requiring natives and sustainable landscapes in their landscape design ordinances.

Dr. Kirkpatrick has operated her own Landscape Architectural Design and Consulting Firm since 1996 and specializes in design using native plants. In addition, she works as a consultant with numerous environmental groups including the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Susquehanna River Basin Commission and the Paxton Creek Watershed Association.

This program is free and open to the public, but is also certified to offer 1.5 Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist and Landscape Industry Certified Continuing Education Units for a fee of $10 to professionals.

Please email the Manada Conservancy at: office@manada.org to register.  For further information, call 717-566-4122.

1/21/2013