March 13, 2019
Our March Monthly Gathering featured the presentation “Fighting the Bad Bugs with the Good Bugs” by guest speaker Susie Van de Riet, the owner of St. Louis Native Plants and a horticulturist for Forest Park Forever. Susie is a business member of our chapter and her home was on the 2018 St. Louis Native Plant Garden Tour. The gathering was attended by 56 members and 33 guests at our indoor location, the Brentwood Community Center.
After a welcome to our members and guests, our president Marsha introduced the board members. Kevin Mowery then spoke about our Grant Gardens Mentor Program and the need for a few more volunteers. Thankfully, all the slots were filled and they can start this spring on visiting these sites to see where they stand.
Marsha introduced Susie, who began her talk by explaining how she came to love insects. It was not love at first sight, but after attending a program by the Xerces Society on Farming with Native Beneficial Insects, her focus on insects became a positive passion. She now practices eco-friendly gardening with native plants that support our native pollinators.
Her main strategies are to
- avoid pesticides
- limit tilling
- leave the leaves
- diversify plant choices
- rotate crops
- use caution in regard to where you buy your native plants, those grown in our state can be more successful and also contain the nutrients our native bugs need.
Susie shared her plant list with us – thank you!
From the list she talked about, it looked like aphids were a favorite food by all the beneficial insects!
News and updates followed the talk by reminding attendees about upcoming tabling needs, our plant sale in May, Honeysuckle Sweep month , delivery of our tree seedlings, and upcoming workshops.
Visit the Dig In! page to see open volunteer opportunities for members
Submitted by
Ginny Johnson, Chapter Secretary
