“After the native plants get established, there will be much less maintenance. Also, I want the property to feel like it belongs in the Pacific Northwest and supports the local birds, bees and other critters. I’ll have time to sit in nature in my own backyard, content knowing I am leaving a better place for future generations.” – Sherry Donald
There is no better place to spend retirement than Birch Bay for Sherry and Charlie Donald. After working full careers in Seattle and Phoenix, then traveling across the US, Birch Bay felt like the perfect place to call home. “We looked at a lot of areas around the country to retire and kept coming back to the Pacific Northwest. We were attracted to Whatcom County for its beauty and quiet nature. Our careers keep us close to the big city and we were done with traffic, noise, pollution and ready for some peace of mind. We found it in Birch Bay Village and what Whatcom County has to offer.” While they love Birch Bay, their new yard left a lot to be desired.
“I was interested in creating a native landscape but had a flat lot with nothing but lawn. [I knew I] would need to learn a lot and get some help.” Sherry had landscaped her previous yard in Phoenix with native species and had enjoyed the experience. “I have learned over the years the chemicals we use to maintain our lawns have a much broader impact than just getting the beautiful soft green under our feet. When we lived in Phoenix, we had a beautifully landscaped yard that had only native plants, no lawn. It felt really good.” Native landscaping generally requires less maintenance and irrigation, no fertilizers or pesticides, provides habitat for pollinators and wildlife, and can help filter runoff from roofs and driveways. When Sherry heard about the Neighborhood Native Landscaping Program (NNLP), she jumped at the opportunity to acquire the guidance and resources she had been looking for.
NNLP is a program funded by the Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management District (BBWARM) and jointly managed by the Whatcom Conservation District and Whatcom County Public Works. The goal is to convert existing lawns and landscaping into native plant gardens. The program provides homeowners with planning guidance, permitting assistance, site prep, mulch, and native plants. An important part of the NNLP model is getting a group of close neighbors (generally within walking distance) to participate, resulting in a cluster of native landscaping projects installed during a neighborhood planting party.
“It is a great place to make connections with neighbors. Obviously, we have something in common just by wanting to participate in the program. I’m sure this will foster more opportunities to get to know one another better.”
Sherry submitted an interest form in early 2024 and was one of nine homeowners who were chosen for the NNLP program in Birch Bay. After meeting with Sherry to describe the program and better understand her goals, NNLP staff began the process of planning and permitting the project. Sherry picked out the plant species that she liked and would fit within the landscape. In summer, mulch and cardboard were installed to prep the site. Sherry added her own edging and decorative hardscaping. Then the planting party took place in late fall, in which she, her neighbors and staff installed 181 plants. As a result, 2,981 square feet of Sherry’s lawn has been transformed into a beautiful native plant landscape.
“I feel like supporting native planting results in a much deeper connection with nature and helps to repair and replenish some of the damage we have done in the past. I have come to a broader understanding that I am impacting something much larger than just the ground inside my fence… We will still have some lawn for our dog and grandkids to run and play. I have learned new skills to better manage my lawn with water conservancy and natural processes.”
Overall in 2024, nineteen homeowners planted over 2,600 native plants on 40,500 square feet of private property in Birch Bay and Lake Whatcom through NNLP. Now, Whatcom CD and Whatcom County Public Works are looking for new participants in 2025. If you and your neighbors would like to convert your lawns to beautiful, low-maintenance yards that protect water quality and improve habitat, visit the NNLP website to fill out the interest form by the end of January. The more of your neighbors who sign up, the more likely your neighborhood will be selected to participate.
“I would absolutely recommend this to friends and neighbors. If we as a community don’t make changes to protect our environment, no one else will.”
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