By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

DAYTON, Ohio — Learn about the important role of native plants in the environment and how to use them in landscaping; come to the Midwest Native Plant Conference July 24-26 at the Hope Hotel in Dayton.

“There is so much suburban and urban space now, so many gardens and such a loss of native diversity in terms of plants,” said Jim McCormac, conference committee chair. “We feel it is very important to educate people about the value of native plants.”

That’s what the conference is about. Helping people to connect with nature by learning how to reestablish native habitats. The focus will be on native prairies and wetlands.

Native plants are hardy because they are adapted to the local environment. Ohio has 1,850 native plant species.

“Butterflies are really growing in popularity,” McCormac said. “People are very interested in them. Virtually all of our butterflies are intimately linked to native plants. The caterpillars have to have them or they can’t develop.”

“A lot of the native plants are just aesthetically stunning,” he said. “So that’s what we’re gathering to do; to educate people about native plants their value, their potential role in the landscape, and to link attendees with people that sell native plants.”

Time will be allotted for visiting with vendors offering native plants, books, art, and other items that will increase the understanding of and the joy in going native.

Speakers, many nationally known, will address topics ranging from what kinds of native plants to use, how to establish a prairie, plants that are good for wildlife—whether birds, butterflies, dragonflies, how to create water gardens and more, McCormac said. 

“Someone is going to speak on everything that you might have a niche in your property to do something with,” McCormac said.
“We’re going to have field trips for those who want to see some of this first hand in the wild,” he said “We’re doing this in one of the prairie strongholds of Ohio which is Dayton. The time of year, late July is just primo for prairie plants and that is kind of the focus of this inaugural conference.”

So far, feedback on the conference has been very good, McCormac said. In a pre-registration with little advertising, 111 signed on. Approximately 200 people can be accommodated.

The conference is presented by Flora-Quest, Greater Cincinnati Wild Ones and the Midwest Native Plant Society. Sponsors are Five Rivers Metroparks and the Ohio Prairie Nursery. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit the Beavercreek Wetland Association and the Marianist Environmental Education Center.

For more information and to register online visit www.cincinnatibirds.com/mwnp or call Kathy McDonald at 513-941-6497 or Macy Reynolds at 937-767-2981.

Interested in being a vendor? Call Barb Stigler at 513-385-8779.