Cape Girardeau Nature Center to host native plant seminar

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News from the region
Southeast
Published Date
02/21/2013
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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – When landscapers decide to grow native, native plants are sometimes difficult to find. The Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center and Cape Girardeau County Master Gardeners hold a native plant seminar annually to help well intentioned gardeners and landscapers find what they need.

This year’s seminar is scheduled for March 8 and 9 at the Nature Center in Cape County Park, North.

“This will be our eighth annual native plant seminar since the nature center opened,” said Nature Center Office Manager Lisa Seyer, who is coordinating the event.

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Douglas Tallamy, highly acclaimed public speaker and author of Bringing Nature Home. He is Professor and Chair of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, and an avid promoter of growing native.

“We are fortunate to bring him here for this year’s seminar,” Seyer said.

Dr. Tallamy will open the event with his signature presentation “Bringing Nature Home” on Friday, March 8, from 6-8 p.m. at the Nature Center. Events will continue on Saturday with Dr. Tallamy’s presentation “Maintaining Curb Appeal with Native Plants” beginning at 8:30 a.m. After his presentations, Dr. Tallamy will be available to sign personal copies of Bringing Nature Home.

Other presentations at the seminar include Battling Urban Invasive Plants, Tree Seedlings and the George O. White Nursery, Soup and Fable, Whimsy in Your Garden, Composting: Heat it up to Clean it up, and Best Bang for Your Buck.

Native plant vendors will be available both Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors and artisans present will include the Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, Forrest Keeling Nursery, Fran Haupt, Louis Callahan, Harold Sebastian, Touch from the Heart Pottery, The Natural Way Therapeutic Soaps, Anita’s Creations and the Master Gardeners. Seyer said local Boy Scouts have volunteered to be at the event to help visitors carry plant purchases to their vehicles, as parking will be limited.

This event is free, but seating is limited for both sessions. To register, call (573)290-5218 or go online to www.mdc.mo.gov to find event information and registration form, which may be mailed or faxed to the Cape Nature Center at (573) 290-5566.