2003: Keystone Members Bob Siemer and Ann Early

Spreading the Seeds of Native Landscaping
in St. Louis

You have probably met Bob and Ann; they seem to be at every native landscaping event I have ever attended. I most often see them in their Missouri Prairie Foundation hats teaching people about the values of native plants over turf grass for protecting soil and habitat. I first met them at Shaw Nature Reserve educating visitors about the prairie.

Together Ann and Bob are one of those power teams that bring such a volume of knowledge and experience to every event and then multiply it by two. There was a period this spring when I saw them once or twice every week educating at different events. Ann estimates that they have logged at least 65 volunteer hours already this year. Not many are willing to give so much time to volunteering as these two do and have been doing for years.

Ann filled me in on a brief history of their involvement in Wild Ones from joining 20 years ago to the ways they stay active today.

“We first heard about the formation of the St. Louis Chapter of Wild Ones as volunteers at Shaw Nature Reserve, taking classes from James Trager and Scott Woodbury. Joining the new chapter seemed like another good opportunity to learn more about native plants.”

“About ten years ago, Ed Schmidt, who was chapter president before Marsha, encouraged us to give presentations about native plant gardening for monarchs for Brightside’s Urban Gardening Symposium and other community groups.  We continue to volunteer for the chapter’s speakers’ bureau today. It is very gratifying when newer chapter members tell us that one of our talks back then helped them become interested in native gardening.”

“In staffing the chapter’s info table at various local events in recent years, we have been encouraged by the interest shown by younger generations in the native landscaping movement.  We plan to continue volunteering doing presentations and tabling and helping at other events for the chapter going forward.” 

Native landscaping in St Louis is in good hands with people like Bob and Ann around to educate the public about the importance of native plants. They have influenced and encouraged so many of us and will continue to welcome new generations of Wild Ones members. We are a lucky chapter to have them on our team.