Featuring WO chapter members Cheryl B and Janet C who live at Leisure World in Silver Spring, Maryland, where they are working with management and residents to plant natives to support local bird populations
Both avid birders, Cheryl and Janet helped to establish a bird club in September of 2025, the Purple Martin and Bird Club, as one of Leisure World’s sponsored activities. They now have over 80 paying members, organize bird walks, hold monthly meetings and have raised funds. They have worked with the Leisure World Golf Course to erect new condominiums and nesting gourds for purple martins, supporting a purple martin colony that has been at Leisure World for over 20 years. The club also monitors over 30 bluebird boxes on the golf course and throughout the community.
Now they have taken their dedication to birds a step further, encouraging Leisure World management and residents to plant natives and to garden ecologically on common property, balconies and patios to improve the environment for birds. The Purple Martin Club invited Wild Ones member, Diana C, to attend a recent Club meeting to give her presentation, Welcoming Wildlife to your Patio Garden, which is all about growing natives in pots – great for balconies too. They also worked with the Leisure World Garden Club to offer native plants at their annual sale. They are currently working with the landscaping company to create soft landings under several trees in their condo’s common area. A second building is now raising funds to do the same. Kudos, Cheryl and Janet!
If you would like to learn more about how Cheryl and Janet accomplished so much in just a couple of years, contact Cheryl at [email protected]. If you would like to see Diana’s presentation, it is on our website here. Diana also presents in-person for condo and townhouse residents. To get in touch with Diana, contact us and we’ll connect you.
Growing Pollinator Corridors – Tell us what you’re doing!
Wild Ones Members, we want to know about initiatives you’re undertaking to spread native plants in your neighborhood and community. Our Growing Pollinator Corridors document offers recommendations for these areas: your neighborhood, HOAs, condos, swimming pools, schools, libraries, places of worship, vacant areas and hell strips, as well as social media outreach.
If you’re active in any of these areas, please let us know. We would like to include your hard work, successes and challenges in our new Member Spotlight series, launching in this month’s newsletter. Email Moira D through the chapter listserv at Groups.IO or contact us.