Beyond Your Back Door: Connecting with Nature Where You Live
February 23 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
A virtual illustrated talk by trained naturalist and master gardener Jim Sirch, who will use his blog to take a deeper dive into the amazing natural events happening right in our own backyards – and beyond – throughout the seasons.
During the pandemic, people working from home found themselves spending more time in their yards and local green spaces. They began to look beyond the grass that needed mowing and leaves that needed raking, and started to notice the wildlife that lived there. They observed songbirds, raptors, snakes, toads, tiny native bees and more, often marveling at what they saw. In response to questions about what they were observing, Jim Sirch created a nature blog to help others better understand and learn about phenological changes – natural events happening throughout the year. In this talk, Jim will share his broad understanding of geology, plants and wildlife and their interconnectedness within particular ecosystems.
WHEN: Sunday, February 23, 2025
TIME: 4 p.m.
PLACE: Virtual via zoom
About Jim Sirch
Vice President of the Connecticut Horticultural Society, Jim Sirch is a UConn Master Gardener, past president and board member of his local land trust, and on the board of the Mountain Laurel chapter of Wild Ones, a nonprofit dedicated to native plants. Recently retired from his position as Education Coordinator for the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, he founded the Peabody-Beardsley-Maritime chapter of the citizen science program Frogwatch USA, the country’s largest chapter.
Jim is passionate about helping others decrease their lawns and re-wild their yards. He co-founded a native plant seed library at his local public library. Jim holds a B.S in Forestry from West Virginia University, a B.S. from Miami University in Science Education; and an M.S. in Environmental Studies Administration from Antioch University. He is also a recipient of the Sigmund Abeles Award from the Connecticut Science Teachers and Supervisors Association for outstanding science teaching and professional development. Jim lives in a 19th century farmhouse in Connecticut with his wife and daughter.
