Programs: Gardening Expo, bush honeysuckle, and Native by Design

By Marsha Gebhardt
President, St. Louis Wild Ones

Wild Ones information table

St. Louis Wild Ones members and followers,

Are you aware that you are in the vanguard of a native landscaping movement that is rapidly picking up speed in the St. Louis region? Wild Ones, a not-for-profit environmental education and advocacy organization, is increasingly joining other organizations with similar goals in order to build on the momentum and further encourage environmentally sound landscaping practices. In order to better inform you of Wild Ones-sponsored events as well as related programs in our community, we are increasing website, blog, and social media communication.

Now that the bulk of winter has passed, native landscaping events are ramping up. Below are three February offerings that you may be interested in attending:

Topic: Preseason Gardening Expo includes gardening experts, refreshments, and prizes
When: Saturday, February 13, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Rolling Ridge Nursery
Cost: Free to stop by
Registration: Not required

Note: St. Louis Wild Ones will share an information table with Audubon’s Bring Conservation Home.

Topic: Bush Honeysuckle at the Eastern Missouri Group General Meeting
When: Thursday, February 25, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Sierra Club office, 2818 Sutton Blvd, Maplewood 63143
Cost: Free and open to the public
Registration: Not required

Quinn Long, Ph.D., Ecologist with the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden will focus on the history of how bush honeysuckle and other invasive species in our region rose to prominence, their ecological impacts, and how to control them. He will discuss the need to learn from past invasions to prevent the spread of several emerging invasive species.

A week after this meeting, local organizations will join in an effort to improve habitat for our native plants and animals in the first ever Honeysuckle Sweep Week, March 5 – 13.

Topic: Native by Design: Landscapes Beyond Beauty featuring Doug Tallamy.
When: Friday, February 26, 7:30 a.m. – noon
Where: Lewis and Clark Community College, LeClaire Room at the Nelson Center, Edwardsville, IL
Cost: $30.00 ($20.00 with a valid student ID)
Registration is now closed (updated Feb. 23, 2016)
Note: The Southwest Illinois chapter of Wild Ones is part of the Event Committee.