Date: May 12, 2026

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: Polk County Public Libraries, Saluda Branch

Speaker: Steve Pettis, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent with the Henderson County Cooperative Extension

Join us for a presentation on Environmentally Friendly Landscaping from Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show and Podcast, Steve Pettis. Steve will discuss environmentally friendly garden techniques that you can implement this spring to make your garden a friendly place for wildlife including pollinating insects. Steve believes at least part of our landscapes should mimic nature as much as possible. Healthy urban and suburban environments can be achieved by reducing lawns, holistic tree health care and protection, using biorational pest control methods and increasing biodiversity utilizing native plants in naturalistically designed plantings.

Steve has been in the plant business for 35 years and holds an undergraduate degree in horticulture and a Master’s degree in plant protection and pest management. As a NC State University County Agent, he works with home gardeners, landscape professionals and local municipalities to make our built environments more natural and environmentally friendly.

The Saluda Library Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Polk County Public Libraries Systems.

Contact Pam Torlina, pam@conservingcarolina.org, with questions or for more information.