March 18th, 2026

Be a Native Plant Champion!

5:30 to 7:45 pm

Clark Family Branch Library - Room D

1640 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63131

Learn how to advocate for native plants in your community through native gardening best practices and local policy-making. Dan Pearson of St. Louis Audubon, Missouri Botanical Garden’s Green Jean Ponzi, and a panel of local leaders share practical guidance and resources.

5:30-6 pm Tabling

6:00-6:45 pm "Native Landscaping Best Practices for City Officials" Presented by Dan Pearson and Jean Ponzi

6:45-7:45 p.m. Panel Discussion Moderated by Jean Ponzi

Panelists

William J. (Bill) Walterscheid is the division manager of Code Enforcement. Bill has spent his entire professional career at St Louis County, He served as a building plan reviewer, supervisor of MEP Plan Review, and assistant division manager of Code Enforcement. Bill enjoys working with people to find code-compliant solutions to challenging issues.

Bill has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri. He also holds certifications from the International Code Council (ICC) as a Building Code Official, Certified Building Official, and Building Plan Examiner.

Eileen Graessle transitioned from people therapy to therapy for the planet with a degree in Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health through the University of Edinburgh. Eileen is currently acting VP of Education for St. Louis Audubon, believing every good tip for cherishing care of nature is meant to be shared. Beekeeping led to gardening voraciously for native bees and insects, including planting a prairie thanks to a MSD Rainscaping Grant, to make her native property bloom and thrive. Managing problem mosquitoes in Ballwin without harming insect friends has been a dream for this resident for over 25 years, recently coming true thanks to the dedicated work of Eileen, Krystal Coxson and Lori Stringer on the Ballwin Grows Native Team in 2025.

Kelli Dunaway is a coach, writer, and founder of Aspire and Legal Witchcraft, working at the intersection of strategic development and intuitive self-empowerment. A dedicated advocate for environmental sustainability, Kelli served five years as an elected official in St. Louis County. During her tenure, she championed and passed the Managed Natural Landscapes ordinance, a landmark policy providing residents the flexibility to replace traditional lawns with vibrant native gardens. By combining the analytical precision of a seasoned leader with a deep passion for Missouri’s native ecology, Kelli helps communities bridge the gap between policy and purposeful action.

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