Free native plants, rain barrels available to Petersburg residents this spring

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- Are you a Petersburg resident who's ready for spring? The James River Association is offering free native plants and rain barrels to get you in the gardening spirit.

April is Native Plant Month in Virginia. Petersburg residents who want to learn more about the Commonwealth's regionally-native plants are invited to a native plants workshop at the Petersburg Public Library.

According to the association, this workshop will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 at the library, located at 201 W. Washington Street.

"Participants will learn about the benefits of native plants, how they support local wildlife and where to source them," the association said.

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Registration is free and includes a regionally-native plant provided by Local Ecotype Richmond Natives (LERN).

Additionally, the association is sharing the benefits of using a rain barrel at home. You can use collected rainwater to water your plants while also reducing stormwater runoff.

Petersburg residents who'd like to learn how to install a rain barrel at their home can attend the association's rain barrel workshop. It will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26 at the City of Petersburg's Public Works & Utilities, located at 1340 E. Washington Street.

Like the native plant workshop, registration for the rain barrel workshop is free. It also includes a 55-gallon drum and a "RainRecycle Rain Barrel Kit" courtesy of the Rain Barrel Depot.

For more information on both events, click here.