2023 Webinar Series with St. Louis County Library
The live 2023 webinar series is over,
but you can watch the recordings here:
Keynote: Birds, Bees, Flowers & Trees
Desiree L. Narango, Ph.D., Conservation Scientist, Vermont Center for Ecostudies
Learn from a nationally renowned conservation biologist why the plants you choose for your yard matter for wildlife conservation. Dr. Desiree Narango shares the amazing interactions between native plants and wildlife and the biodiversity that you can attract to your own yard.
Homegrown National Park is Growing HERE!
Jean Ponzi, EarthWays Center of Missouri Botanical Garden
Whether our place has pots on the patio or rolling acres, each of us can contribute to the vital movement to restore biodiverse habitat. Local habitat is proliferating, in concert with the national program Homegrown National Park. Native plant advocate and practitioner "Green Jean" Ponzi, from the Missouri Botanical Garden, details what this landscape transformation means, offers, and is growing on sites across our region - and how YOU can join this movement.
Container Gardening with Native Plants
Mervin Wallace, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery
While many folks grow annual bedding plants outside in containers, and there are many articles about that topic to be found in gardening magazines, this presentation focuses on using native perennials in containers. Topics covered will include choosing plants, potting soil, mulch, fertilizer, watering, and winter care. Included will be growing emergent water plants in containers that hold water. Look at how some plants have held up over time. A list, including helpful information and comments about plants that have worked in pots, will be available.
Transforming a Yard from Invasives to Natives
Carrie Coyne - St. Louis Community College
When Carrie moved into her home, the yard was choked with invasive plants. With a plan and determination, she and her husband transformed their St. Louis County property into an oasis of native plants. Learn how they did it, and how you can too. Topics include the existing conditions when they moved in, their desires for change, the planning process, the grant process, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
Rainscaping Solutions
Allison Joyce, EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s and Roland Biehl, MSD Project Clear
Rainscaping utilizes native plants to allow rainwater to soak in where it falls. Learn about sustainable landscaping practices that are good for rainscaping and the benefits of native plants. Learn about resources, funding opportunities, and success tips to enhance your landscape with rainscaping.
How Native Landscaping Makes a Difference
Dr. Gerardo Camilo, Billiken Bee Lab at St. Louis University
Dr. Gerardo Camilo from St. Louis University presents his lab’s research investigating birds, bees and mosquitoes in native plant gardens enrolled in St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home program.
Our Garden is for the Birds!
Margy Terpstra, St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home Program
When we take care of birds, we help heal our local ecosystems for many species that are in trouble, including bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Learn about the status of our native birds, both resident and migratory, and what they need to thrive. Resources and practical tips will help you take steps in adding keystone native plants and simple water features to your gardens, making them attractive to birds and to neighbors!
Shade Gardening with Native Plants - It's a Shady Business
Erin Goss of Wallflower Design/Bring Conservation Home and Susie Van de Riet of St. Louis Native Plants
Gardening in the shade can seem like a daunting prospect, but when approached mindfully can offer a bright and beautiful oasis in a sea of darkness. In this talk we'll walk through the process of planting a native shade garden from beginning to end: How does one determine the light conditions of a space? What types of wildlife will be attracted by a shade garden? What are some tried and truly stunning shade plant combinations? Lastly, are there best practices for maintaining the garden once it's installed? We'll dive into these questions (and more!) and offer an outline for creating and caring for your very own native shade garden.
Understanding Native Trees and Shrubs
James Faupel, Litzsinger Road Ecology Center
Planting any tree or shrub can seem very easy at first, but a lot of time and forethought should be given to know how to care for and understand your plants' long-term needs. This presentation covers what considerations to look for when selecting a woody native plant for your site; details on understanding their biology, lifecycles, native habitat/soil needs, reproduction and cultivation; and the basics of planting, pruning, and other long-term care of your woody plants.
Native Landscaping with Hungry Deer
Panelists: Garry Guinn - Humane Wildlife Solutions, Erin Shank - Missouri Department of Conservation, Betty Struckhoff - St. Louis Wild Ones
Moderator: Jean Ponzi
During this panel discussion, learn about a range of tactics and tools to help with establishing and maintaining native landscape in areas with heavy deer populations. More about the panelists and their experience
