Midwest Native Plant Conference

Logo by Ann Geise

There is unquestionably a growing movement to retore native plants to the landscape. And there are few simpler and more satisfying things that a homeowner can do to beautiful a property and help native wildlife at the same time.

With that in mind, mark your calendars for the first Midwest Native Plant Conference, to be held at the Hope Hotel and Conference Center in Dayton, July 24 - 26, 2009. Registration is open and everything you need to know is RIGHT HERE.

The theme is prairies, and what better way to combat mid-summer's doldrums than come hear bunch of talented and knowledgeable speakers, browse numerous offerings from vendors of native plants, and fraternize with like-minded people.

The Hope Hotel is conveniently situated, not only for travel purposes, but also to scads of prairies and fens. And we'll be having field trips on Sunday to the most interesting of these habitats, all within a short drive of the conference center.

Huffman Prairie, which is almost in sight of the Hope Hotel, as it will look at the time of the conference. The prairie abounds with native flora, and many of these species will be available at the conference. We'll also have several programs on prairies and their restoration. Some of the species evident in the above photo are: Purple Coneflower, Royal Catchfly, Wild Bergamot, and Gray-headed Coneflower. All of these gorgeous plants are easy to grow.

Field trip participants will also be in butterfly-filled habitats at a time when they are teeming with insects. Butterflies and native plants are intimately linked, and there is nothing easier one can do to help declining butterfly populations than plant natives.

GO HERE for the complete scoop, and registration information. Please pass the word about the conference, and I'll hope to see you there.