Featuring small Question & Answer discussion groups on a variety of topics.
Have you or are you planning to use native plants in your garden and need help on plant selection and maintenance? Attend our first annual Natural Landscaping Table Topics event featuring a variety of native plant topics and leaders. Participate in Question & Answer discussion sessions on your choice of topics. Leaders for each table are either professionals or have many years of experience. All participants receive $5 off purchase of a flat at our annual plant sale.
Topics and Leaders:
Do-It-Yourself Site Assessment Karen Graham, Earth Tea LLC
Do you know if your soil is sandy, mesic or clay? To help you ask the right questions, take some notes about your property, including existing trees, forbs and grasses; slopes or depressions; along with any plants, including weeds, that seem to flourish.
Karen applies her MS education and industry experience in program management, concept development, and consulting to projects at Nature’s Edge Designs. Using her background in microbiology, she started Earth Tea LLC focusing on the use of compost tea to revitalize the soil.
Landscaping with Native Trees & Shrubs Erik Olsen, Landscape Designer, Tennant Landscaping
Focuses on selecting native trees and shrubs of Minnesota that are versatile and suitable for natural landscaping in urban or suburban settings.
Erik graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Environmental Design and a Masters in Landscape Architecture in 1995. Shortly thereafter he was introduced to native plants. Erik joined Out Back Nursery & Landscaping in 1997 and began designing and installing landscapes using primarily native plants. He brings vision into his designs that merge ecological processes with horticultural practices.
Designing Front Yards & Boulevards with Native Plants Roxanne Stuhr, Owner TrueNature Design
Native plants can make great front yard gardens and add curb appeal. This session will focus and plant selection that follow municipal guidelines while adding beauty to your garden.
Roxanne fully believes and embraces the interconnection of each of us to all things, and as such, a landscape design must supportively meet and work with what is true for you and what is true in nature. A lifelong gardener, Roxanne earned bachelors degrees in Landscape Architecture and Business Administration; worked in the green industry for over 30 years; and is an MNLA-CP landscape designer.
Transitional or Blended Cultivar and Native Plant Gardens Shirley Mah Kooyman, Botanist Natural Shore Technologies
Focusing on how to gradually transition an established cultivar garden to a more sustainable and diverse landscape with native plants (without giving up all your favorite cultivars!)
Shirley Mah Kooyman is a botanist, teacher, and plant information specialist. In 2009 she received the Bruce Beresford Horticulture Educators Award from the MN State Horticultural Society. She previously worked at the Arboretum for 25 years and was the Adult Education Manager.
Shade and Naturalized Woodland Gardens Julia Vanatta, Native Plant Gardener Member of Twin Cities Chapter of Wild Ones
Focusing on plant selection for shade gardens along with formation of plant communities for natural woodlands gardens.
Julia joined Wild Ones when she began to learn the importance of native plants to our ecosystem. She has transitioned her shady back yard garden into plant communities that flourish and is currently redoing her front yard into an oak savanna style garden. Since 2008, Julia has led historic walking tours of Nokomis Naturescape; also speaks on gardening with native plants to local garden clubs.
Gardening for Wildlife Vicki Bonk, Growing Monarch Habitat Charter member, Twin Cities Chapter of Wild Ones member For 15 years
Discussion will focus on plants that attract a variety of birds, butterflies, bees and other important wildlife.
Vicki has served as volunteer garden coordinator for the Nokomis Naturescape - a 4-acre native plant installation. In this role she developed the Growing Monarch Habitat program. Both the Naturescape and her yard are certified Monarch Way Stations and National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitats
Raingarden Design and Maintenance Laura Domyancich Ecologist / Maintenance Crew Leader, EnergyScapes
Focusing on design, plant selection and management of native plant raingardens.
Laura is beginning her sixth season as an Ecologist for EnergyScapes in St Paul. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point with a degree in Restoration Ecology, she worked in the field of vegetation ecology and applied restoration. Her work at EnergyScapes involves project management, advising plant selection for landscape design and the long-term maintenance of raingardens and other native plantings.
Native Plant Garden and Landscape Maintenance Michael Lynch, Field Trip and Volunteer Leader
Focusing on identifying and controlling invasive species and also managing aggressive yet desirable native plants.
Michael is founder of Botanical Wanderings, an informal yet enthusiast group who take frequent field trips to discover native plants in natural areas.. Michael earned his degree Plant Science at University of Minnesota and works as a natural resource technician for the City of Minnetonka, leading volunteers to control invasive species on city parkland.
In addition to our scheduled table topics, visit with chapter members and leaders to learn about summer events and Wild Ones volunteer opportunities.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
7 pm - 8:45 pm
(socializing and setup begins at 6:30 pm)
Wood Lake Nature Center, Richfield, MN
