Close to Home: Biodiversity in Your Backyard!
Schedule
Thu May 07 2026 at 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm
UTC-07:00Location
The Mountaineers | Kirkland, WA
Hanson’s presentation will focus on exploring and appreciating backyard biodiversity, the theme of his latest book, Close to Home. Highlighting fascinating and unheralded creatures, from gall wasps to leaf miners, the talk explores three themes about the nature in our yards and neighborhoods: what is out there, what is it doing, and what can we do to help it? Native plants play an important role in answering all those questions! Hanson is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Switzer Environmental Fellow, and an independent conservation biologist. In addition to his writing, he consults for conservation groups and government agencies, and is a sought-after public speaker. Hanson co-hosted the PBS Nature series American Spring Live, and has appeared as a guest on programs ranging from NPR's Fresh Air to On Point, Science Friday, The World, The Splendid Table, and Book Lust with Nancy Pearl. He often works at the interface between natural and human systems, and has conducted research on habitat fragmentation, endangered species, and the ecological impacts of warfare. Hanson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands, his master’s from the University of Vermont’s Field Naturalist Program, and his doctorate in a joint program through the University of Idaho and the Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza, Costa Rica. Hanson was born and raised and continues to live in the Pacific Northwest.
This program is in person in the Goodman Room at the Mountaineers (7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle) at 7:00 PM.. It will be a 40 minute presentation followed by Q & A and book signing. We plan on having copies of his books for sale.
Stewart Wechsler, our Botanist Fellow, will host a plant ID workshops prior to this program at 6:30 PM. In addition to any plant samples the chapter botanists bring, attendees are welcome to bring in plant samples for identification.
There will be refreshments, door prizes (including Thor Hanson’s latest book!) and native wildflower tote bags for sale!
Where is it happening?
The Mountaineers, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-3996, United States, Kirkland
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