The Good News of Midwest Native Plant Conference

This past weekend a large gathering of native plant enthusiasts gathered for a spirit-filled event at the Bergamo Marianist Retreat Center in Dayton, Ohio.  This was the fifth annual Midwest Native Plant Conference, where people gather for workshops, speakers, guided walks and a huge native plant sale.  It is about as much fun as a gardener in Ohio could ever want!

The Good News- native plants feed God's little critters.

Native plants are easier to to grow, well adapted to our soils and temperatures, and historically correct for Ohio.  But even more important, native plants feed native insects, the basic link of the food chain. If you like wildlife --from fuzzy little bunnies to black bears-- you know they have to eat!

Cheryl Harner hosts a show-and-tell with caterpillars.

One ginormous display, loads of feeding caterpillars, and
 native plants that host butterflies are all part of the program.

 It is not all preaching to the choir. I love speaking at these events, to help assure people that we are not fanatics.  You can keep your hosta and day lilies, and still provide companion native plants for habitat.  One topic of grave concern is our use and misuse of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.  What is the point of planting native plants if we kill all the insects (think butterflies and other pollinators)  that visit them?

A gentle rain didn't' stop the bird watchers.

 Educational walks are a big part of the weekend.  Jim McCormac led a morning bird walk and an evening insect song walk with Lisa Rainsong.  People love to learn more about nature in the beautiful surroundings at this retreat center.  A gentle rain couldn't stop this crowd.

Besides, we had plenty of umbrellas to share.

The gospel according to Doug Tallamy, could be a valuable tool for preserving species.

 The numerous speakers are excellent. David Brandenburg rocked the Graminoids, while John Howard took us on a photographic "Meander through Nature."  Jim McCormac taught photography and a class on the rare plants found at Cedar Bog.  These men are my mentors, some of the smartest fellers in Ohio, and just a few of the knowledgeable people who presented.

Our keynote speaker represents the University of Delaware. Doug Tallamy broke new ground in the native plant field with his book, Bringing Nature Home.  If you haven't read it, you will want to do so, right away! Tallamy has documented all that we "naturalist types" suspected; our native insects must have native plants, and the balance of our natural world is being upset by non-native plants.

The take home message from Tallamy's program was this: Biological corridors must do more than facilitate movement; they must support life!  Birds may eat multi-flora rose hips and honeysuckle berries, but they cannot raise their young on berries.  Birds must have insect larva to meet the protein requirements of their young.

Native plants are not just good-looking and hearty, they are vital to the existence of our wildlife!

Thanks to everyone who attended the conference and supports the native plant movement.  And a very special thanks to the organizers, speakers, leaders and volunteers.  It simply could not happen without you.

Saving the World

Some mornings the news is pretty hard to take. Environmentally, we humans don't have such a hot record for co-existing with nature. Reading about oil spills, global warming, and invasive species is enough to get you down.

If the bad news all becomes a little overwhelming to you too, let me share a few thing you can do to make a difference.

1. Provide Habitat


The last slide from my "Creating an Oz for Butterflies" program pretty much sums it up. Plant native plants (especially native trees) to improve YOUR corner of the world. You might be surprised with the wildlife that will visit... and even come to depend on your oasis or "Oz."

Landscapers and homeowners tend to avoid using tree species that shed fruits or nuts on lawns. So, what do you think our wildlife will live on? Plant a wild cherry, oak or hickory tree if you want to see nature in action.

2. Preseve habitats-

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Here is a feel-good story about a guy who is hosting the ONLY remaining Swamp Metalmarks in Ohio. He didn't even have to plant natives. He just didn't mess up the habitat that was already there! Follow this link to the story in the Bellefontaine Enquirer to read about my hero.

3. Support a conservation group- or several!

Greater Mohican Audubon Society, OOS, Black Swamp Bird Observatory have all done educational programs and promote conservation. There are many organizations that need your help (or $ if you can't spare the time.)

So, those were three simple, empowering, things you can do.

And if you are most interested in that important link between native plants and nature- I encourage you to check this out:

Here is a book that could change your life. Reading Bringing Nature Home will help you understand how important native plant species are to the survival of birds, butterflies and other natural wonders... including singing insects! The book is also a great resource for lists of "best" trees and shrubs.

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No one of us can save the world... but we can make a difference, by simply re-thinking our own backyards. As Tallamy wrote in my copy of the book, "Garden as if life depended on it."

Ohio Botanical Symposium

If you are a big fan of Ohio's natural areas, you have probably heard of the Ohio Botanical Symposium. About 415 of Ohio's native plant people gathered in Columbus for an educational day of programs, vendors and the latest plant news. A special gathering of Sedge-heads were there to hear the great Tony Reznichek talk about one of the most confusing genus of the plant world, sedges.

One of the best places to look for rare plants is near rare habitats, and Richland county's Five-Finger Bog is a land trust property and frequent haunt of mine.

Today Jim McCormac presented the program on "Best Finds" from all over Ohio, including the Bog Willow, Salix pedicellaris, and Five-Finger cinquefoil, Potentilla palustris found at Five-finger Bog by a couple of the best botanist in Ohio: Rick Gardner and Steve McKee. I was honored to be along on that trip and photo documented the great day as shown above.

Others were credited with "Best Finds", too. Friends like Jason Larson, Daniel Boone, Janet Creamer, Tom Arbour and loads more- that I can't remember! I will try to get my hand on the list and post it in its entirety later. These are the people adding to our Ohio Heritage data base, and the important work of the Ohio Heritage botanists.

Another speaker was the well-known author Dr. Douglas Tallamy- if you don't own Bringing Nature Home yet, please click on the link and get it! I might help you re-think your whole perspective on landscape plants - and the species trying to make a living on them: caterpillars, spiders, bees, birds, frogs, bats and many mammals as well. Think about adding native plants to your landscape, and as Tallamy wrote in my copy of the book: "Garden as if life depends upon it!" Because, it does!