Protect Our Pollinators (POP), a local nonprofit organization devoted to the conservation of pollinators and their habitats, will host a native plant sale on Saturday, September 12, 9 am to noon, rain or shine, on the front lawn of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

Available will be a large variety of native plants that were primarily planted and tended by POP members using the winter sowing method and local sourcing.

Native plants play a key role in ecosystems. As science has shown, native plant species are more favorable for supporting local wildlife, including insects such as bees, moths, and butterflies; birds; amphibians; reptiles; and mammals. In addition to providing resources for local wildlife, native species tend to be more naturally adapted to local growing conditions, are often drought tolerant, and often require less maintenance.

Fall is the best time for planting, giving new additions a chance to establish a firm root system. Followed by the cold winter, perennial plants are set up for a great start for blooms.

The large variety of plants, available in a few sizes, will include asters, bee balm, columbine, coneflower, swamp milkweed, foam flower, brown-eyed Susan, roundleaf ragwort, and golden Alexander.

POP members will be available to help with selections and offer advice on the care and benefits of native plants.

Protect Our Pollinators maintains public native gardens throughout Newtown and helps educate and spark an interest in maintaining a native garden in one’s own backyard. Monthly, The Newtown Bee publishes “My Backyard Habitat,” a column written by POP members highlighting topics like plant selection, simple ways to help birds, importance of keystone plants, biological ways to control pests, and many other topics.

Visit propollinators.org to learn more about the group and work it is doing.