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Small Property Profile: Kit Robey, Gardener and Book Author

8/27/2020

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By Zaria Dyer, conservation intern

An interview with Kit Robey, children's author and gardener, about the certification of her yard as a Georgia Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. 

 
Can you give us a brief description of your children's book Hare and the Big Green Lawn?
In Hare and the Big Green Lawn, Hare moves in and lets his big green lawn die under the high hot sun. Hare’s neighbors, Bobcat, Raven, and Skunk, disapprove, to say the least! While they toil and clip, Hare crosses his paws for luck and swings in a hammock. One day, the neighbors march solemnly up to Hare to give him an ultimatum. But instead of a big mess they discover that Hare’s lawn has changed into a beautiful meadow filled with buzzing bees and wildflowers that brings them all together.

How did you get interested in conservation, and how did that lead you to get your property certified?
I was introduced to the idea of conservation when I was a little girl and my father placed 20 acres or so of my childhood home, Silver Creek Farm, into the Soil Bank. He was reimbursed, in part, by Wisconsin, for leaving his field fallow instead of tilling the soil for timothy. In the meadow that summer I found the oven-like nest of a meadowlark.

What is the one plant you cannot live without?
Oakleaf Hydrangea is native and looks fantastic year-round. My plants are in full luscious white blooms now, in late spring. During summer the blooms will turn green and by fall, bronze. Then I can bring them inside for a dried bouquet. In the winter, the leaves turn colors and then drop, leaving marvelous sculpture-like branches until spring, when the buds spring forth again.

Which plant gives you the most bang for your buck?
Well, again Oakleaf hydrangea, but there are various holly species in my yard, all of which provide green throughout the year and red berries during fall and winter. I’ve seen Brown Thrashers, Cardinals, and, of course, Cedar Waxwings feasting on those berries. These holly bushes also provide wonderful shelter for the birds.

Do you have a favorite trick to maintain your property and plants?
I am a bit sheepish to admit this, but if I have a trick, it is to leave maintenance up to nature alone. To a large extent, I leave pruning to the wind, and wildflowers to the rain. I’m always looking for ways to improve upon this idea. We have a large downed tree in our back woods, and I wouldn’t have it removed for anything. Come winter, there will be Winter Wrens in the shelter of its tangled branches. Eventually the tree will disintegrate and enrich the soil, where I plan to plant trilliums.
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  • Home
    • Login
  • Ways to Give
    • Join/Renew
    • Donate
    • Leadership Giving
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Shop in our Online Store
    • Volunteer >
      • Volunteer Code of Conduct
    • Support Georgia Audubon When You Shop
    • Scholarship Fund
  • Conservation
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife Sanctuary Program >
      • Wildlife Sanctuary Requirements
      • Sanctuary Resources
    • Habitat Restoration >
      • Habitat Restoration Fund
      • Piedmont Park Exhibitat
    • Project Safe Flight
    • Lights Out Georgia
    • Species of Concern >
      • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
      • Chimney Swift
      • Wood Thrush
      • Brown-headed Nuthatch
    • Advocacy >
      • Okefenokee Swamp
    • Plants for Birds >
      • Plant Sales
    • Coffee and Chocolate
  • Education
    • For Youth >
      • Atlanta Urban Ecologists
      • Atlanta Urban Ecologists II
      • Georgia Audubon Bird Stories
      • Homeschool
      • Scouts
      • Youth Birding Competition
      • Camp Talon
    • For Educators >
      • School Programs
      • Learning About Birds Curriculum
      • Professional Development
      • Connecting Students with STEM Through Birds
      • Resources
    • Adult Education >
      • Workshops
      • Master Birder Program
    • Community Outreach
    • Hummingbird Ambassador Programs
    • Scholarships
    • Digital Resources
  • Go Birding
    • Field Trips
    • Injured/Orphaned Birds
    • Program Participant Safety
    • Birding Sites in Georgia
    • Travel >
      • Maine 2021
      • North Dakota 2021
      • Utah 2021
      • Winter in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
      • Jamaica 2021
      • Oaxaca Mexico 2022
      • Northern Minnesota 2022
      • Mexico - Birding the Yucatan Peninsula
      • Eastern South Africa 2022
    • Georgia Birding Network
    • Community Science
    • Birding Resources
    • Why Birds?
  • News & Events
    • Press Room >
      • In the News
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Three Billion Art Exhibit
    • Georgia Bird Fest >
      • Georgia Bird Fest Events
      • Patron
    • News Feed
    • Georgia Grows Native for Birds Month >
      • Wildlife Sanctuary Tour
    • Monthly Meetings >
      • Early Birds Book Club
    • Newsletters
  • About Us
    • Mission and Programs
    • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
    • Annual Report
    • Board and Staff
    • Best Management Practices
    • Job Opportunities
    • Our History
    • Lending Library
    • Contact Us