MDC and partners present native landscaping events March 3-4

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News from the region
Saint Louis
Published Date
02/17/2017
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KIRKWOOD, Mo.— Homeowners can contribute significantly to making their neighborhoods and communities greener by planting natives.   To help them get started, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and partners are once again presenting Partners for Native Landscaping: A Reception and Workshop for Landowners.  The events will be held at the St. Louis Community College Meramec Campus and will provide information and resources on ways homeowners can landscape their property with native plants.  New this year will be a series of workshop breakout sessions that will explore topics in greater depth.

The reception event will take place Friday, March 3 from 5:30-9 p.m. and the workshop will be Saturday, March 4 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.   Participants can choose to attend one or both events.

During the reception, attendees will have a chance to hear two expert speakers, Neil Diboll and Heather Holm.  Diboll, a St. Louis native, currently serves as president of Prairie Nursery in Wisconsin.  Holm is a horticulturist and biologist, and author of Pollinators of Native Plants: Attract Observe and Identify Pollinators and Beneficial Insects with Native Plants.  The evening will also include an appetizer buffet.

Check-in and networking for the Saturday workshop begins at 8 a.m. and the general workshop session starts at 9 a.m.  It will offer information and resources on how to landscape with native plants for greener communities.  Following the general presentations, breakout sessions will cover topics in greater detail, including:

  • Gardening for Wildlife
  • Designing Native Gardens
  • Maintaining Native Gardens
  • Developing Rainscaping Features

Participants will also learn about native plant organizations, discover related upcoming events, meet other native gardeners and purchase Missouri native plants and wildflowers for their landscaping needs.

Space is limited for the reception and workshop and advanced registration is required.  A $20 fee covers the Friday reception and appetizer buffet, the Saturday workshop is $15, which includes lunch.  Registration is available online at http://stlouisaudubon.org/PNL/PNL-2017.html. For questions about the event, call (314) 599-7390. The St. Louis Community College Meramec Campus is located at 11333 Big Bend Blvd. in Kirkwood.

The workshop is sponsored jointly by MDC, Shaw Nature Reserve, St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home Program, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, St. Louis Community College, the St. Louis Chapter of Wild Ones, and Grow Native!.

Native plants have evolved in Missouri’s landscape; they are better acclimated to our climate conditions than exotic plants and resistant to local pests and diseases.  This translates into less time, effort and costs consumed by watering, fertilizing and insecticide use. 

Likewise, native Missouri wildlife has evolved to coexist and use native plants for cover, food and habitat.  So increasing native plants also tends to increase desirable wildlife, like birds, butterflies and pollinators.

The Partners for Native Landscaping Reception and Workshop for Landowners is part of MDC’s commitment to work with homeowners to sustain healthy and greener communities for both people and wildlife.