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KANSAS CITY Mo -- They’re colorful, hardy and a boost to birds and butterflies.
Over thousands of years, Nature has perfected the adaptation of native plants to our soils and varying weather patterns. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a free native plant sale and a workshop on how to make them thrive on March 19 at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, 1401 N.W. Park Road, in Blue Springs.
Native wildflowers and prairie grasses can be used in small home gardens or as larger landscaping features. While they do require care, natives often require less water and resources than non-native plants. They also serve as a food source and natural habitat for grassland and woodland birds and butterflies.
Keynote speaker at the workshop will be Jeff Cantrell, an avid birder and prairie trekker who has used and taught “naturescaping” with native plants for 20 years. Cantrell is an MDC education consultant in southwest Missouri.
Foresters, naturalists and biologists will also give presentations on topics such as tree and shrub planting, shade-tolerant plants, attracting native pollinators and wild plants that are edible.
The event is free but advance registration is required for seminars. Call 816-228-3766 to register or for more information.
The native plant workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. A native plant sale for workshop participants only will be from 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. Then from 1:15 to 3:45 p.m. the general public is invited to attend the native plant sale.
