by Becky Laboy
Originally presented on August 12, 2021
Trees and shrubs are a necessary component of a wildlife-friendly yard. Together with your flowering perennials, they offer habitat in the form of nesting places, cover and food for birds, mammals and pollinators. We will explore some native trees and shrubs you can add to your New Jersey backyard, and discuss how they support the web of life.
Becky Laboy is the Education Outreach Specialist at the Ocean County Soil Conservation District and volunteers her time as co-leader for the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey
Becky Laboy holds an MA in Education, a BS in Biology, and has over 20 years of experience as an Educator. In addition to her Soil Conservation position, Becky is an adjunct professor for Kean University, as well as the Instructor for the Barnegat Bay Master Naturalist course. She also leads birding and plant tours for Wells Mills County Park in Ocean County, NJ. She is co-author of “The Kid’s Guide to Exploring Nature”, published by Brooklyn Botanic Garden. When not teaching about soil conservation, botanizing, or leading people on outdoor adventures, Becky can usually be found behind a pair of binoculars as an avid and devoted birder. She enjoys landscaping her own yard to attract and support birds, and strives to inspire others to make small but positive changes in home landscaping practices that benefit both wildlife and humans.