Nature in My Backyard is a certification program of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland and the Shaker Lakes Garden Club, together with the Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County. It is designed to help you understand the most essential steps for building biodiversity in your backyard. Free site visits are offered by Nature Advisors for those living in Cuyahoga County. If you are interested in a site visit, please visit the website.
Brown Bagging it in My Backyard is a monthly Zoom program presenting topics of interest for those working on creating backyard habitat and increasing biodiversity. Each second Wednesday of the month at noon a local expert will present an informative talk on topics such as creating soft landings, how to properly plant a tree or a focus on wildlife that you might find in your backyard. To register for these talks, please visit the website. To see the complete library, visit the Nature in My Backyard Youtube channel.
Brown Bagging it in My Backyard
Join us for this Zoom series presented on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Noon.
October program
Shrub-tastic! Native Shrubs Worth Knowing and Growing
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Noon
Amy Goletz, Avonlea Gardens and Inn
Amy Goletz owns Avonlea Gardens & Inn with her husband Joe. It is a local native plant nursery in the historic Fowler’s Mill district in Chardon. She is grateful to work happily with her son and daughter!
She comes by her horticultural knowledge from attending classes and workshops and self-educating. She also volunteered and worked with wonderful people who generously shared their knowledge with her.
Amy is a Lake County Master Gardener Volunteer, a Master Rain Gardener, an OCVN and a Volunteer Pollinator Specialist. She loves native plants and native bees, and hopes you do too!
Up Next
At Home with Native Nut Trees
Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Noon
Nathan Johnson, Senior Attorney for Land & Water, Ohio Environmental Council
Hickories, oaks, hazelnuts — these are some of your favorite things …if you happen to be a native lepidopteran, bird, or mammal. But also, the human relationship and history with these native nut-bearing mega-flora runs deep as well. For many good reasons.
Join Nathan on a multi-layered exploration of some of the best native nut trees a backyard could have. We’ll look into unique species characteristics, ecological benefits, growing and care tips, and even some cultural-historical background.
Last, but not least, we’ll touch on some recommended species and individual specimens for home orchard set-ups. Ohio-native pecans, anyone?
As the OEC’s licensed Senior Attorney for Land and Water, Nathan focuses on administrative agency actions that impact our public lands and waterways. He advocates and litigates for the protection of special places, increased access to public lands, and clean water for people and wildlife. Nathan resides in the Columbus area with his wife, two children, and numerous pets. He enjoys gardening, the aquarium hobby, and going on outdoor adventures with his family.