MDC and partners welcome author Larry Weaner during native landscaping events March 29-30 at Danforth Plant Science Center

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News from the region
Saint Louis
Published Date
02/28/2019
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CREVE COUER, Mo.— Homeowners can contribute significantly to making their neighborhoods and communities greener by planting native plants.   To help them get started, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Partners for Native Landscaping are presenting two native plant events.

The events take place Friday and Saturday, March 29-30, at the Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road in Creve Coeur. This year, the events include a lecture and keynote address by Larry Weaner of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, Glenside, Pa. His company is nationally-recognized for its 30 years of combining environmental science with artistic landscape design. Weaner is also the author of the book, Garden Revolution.

The Friday event runs from 5:30-9 p.m. and includes a lecture by Weaner, reception, and book signing. The lecture will be focused on larger landscapes, and will be ideally suited for green industry professionals, students and municipal government officials and staff. Small-lot landowners will also find it useful. Refreshments will be included.

The Saturday workshop runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and features a keynote address from Weaner. The workshop will include breakout sessions on gardening for wildlife, designing with native plants, maintaining landscapes, and more. There will also be a native plant sale, resources for homeowners, self-guided tours of the Plant Science Center campus and six-acre prairie, and a book signing by Weaner. A box lunch will be included as well.

Space is limited for both events and advance registration is required. A $25 fee covers the Friday lecture event, and $30 for the Saturday workshop. More information and registration are available online at https://bit.ly/2NuzEVk. For questions about the event, call (314) 599-7390.

The workshop is sponsored jointly by MDC, Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, Shaw Nature Reserve, St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home Program, 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 Workshop is part of MDC’s commitment to work with homeowners to sustain healthy and greener communities for both people and wildlife.