Wildlife Jewels® hosts Plant for Hummingbirds event
On Saturday, Sept. 6, Wildlife Jewels® – a Newport Beach-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting wildlife – hosted their Plant for Hummingbirds event in honor of National Hummingbird Day at Sunset Ridge Park, which united art, education and community action.
Volunteers planted 132 native pollinator plants, beautifying the park while creating fresh nectar sources and habitat for hummingbirds, monarch butterflies and other pollinators. The event showcased works from the Wildlife Jewels Arts of Wildlife Collection, featuring stories of locally rescued hummingbirds and a monarch butterfly, alongside educational posters on hummingbirds, butterflies and native plants.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photos courtesy of Wildlife Jewels®
Families and youth plant native flowers to support hummingbirds and monarchs at Sunset Ridge Park
Founder and Executive Director Azi Sharif presented the artwork’s impact and shared technologies inspired by hummingbirds – practical ways people can learn from these remarkable birds and protect them every day. Guest speaker Newt Likier of the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center provided actionable guidance to avoid harm to hummingbirds, from smart feeder care to wildlife-safe yards. Greg Haynes, public works supervisor, Park Maintenance for the city of Newport Beach, presented the Sunset Ridge Park Butterfly Garden, introduced the day’s plant palette (including yarrow varieties, penstemon, salvia “Bee’s Bliss” and narrowleaf milkweed), and offered planting directions to volunteers.
Click on photo for a larger image
A monarch moment – the butterfly is feeding on a flower planted minutes earlier
A highlight came when a monarch butterfly landed on a flower freshly planted by volunteers and began feeding – an inspiring, real-time reminder of community conservation at work.
Click on photo for a larger image
Hummingbirds and monarchs thrive together. Volunteers installing native plants which included narrow leaf milkweed and golden yarrow beside Wildlife Jewels’ monarch butterfly artwork.
Presented with support from the city of Newport Beach (120 native plants) and in-kind contributions from Roger’s Gardens and Sprinkles, families, students and neighbors worked side by side to nurture a more vibrant, pollinator-friendly park. Through coastal wildlife monitoring and rescue, marine debris removal, native plant restorations and art-driven education, Wildlife Jewels inspires and empowers the community to protect wildlife and engage in hands-on conservation.
To learn more, volunteer, or support Wildlife Jewels, visit www.wildlifejewels.org.
