Changing the Landscaping Paradigm with Native Plants

Because our gardens are part of the terrestrial ecosystems that sustain humans and the life around us, we must keep them in working order. Tallamy will discuss the important ecological roles of the plants in our landscapes, emphasize the benefits of designing gardens with these roles in mind, and explore the consequences of failing to do so. Gardening in this crowded world carries both moral and ecological responsibilities that we can no longer ignore.

Preserving the Legacy of our Native Trees in Public Parks

Using native trees in public parks has biological and historic importance; remnants of forests often became landscape trees, left in place following clearing for fields. Perpetuating these by replanting their progeny underscores this role and provides opportunities for collaboration.

Social Climbers- Native Vines That Won't Ruin Your Garden Party

Native vines are generous plants that support wildlife, provide natural beauty and are less likely to eat your landscapes. Numerous species will be profiled to illustrate their merits and their use in formal and natural garden settings.

Integrating Layers to Enrich the Garden Experience

Forests provide many inspiring lessons that can be translated into gardening practices; foremost is the tapestry of layers that create a continuum of color, texture and forms throughout the year. Learn the key elements of naturalistic woodland gardens that emulate the forests of the eastern U.S., using Mt. Cuba Center as an example.

Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens:

Reflecting Nature as Inspiration for Garden Design.

Whether amassing favorite species in forests, bogs or wildflower meadows, and creating havens for wildlife, using native plants offers an excellent opportunity for creating sense of place in the landscape. Several strategies for reflecting nature in our gardens – and many of the best native plants – will be highlighted.

7:30-8:30 a.m.

1. Bees and Relationships with Sallie Lee

Bees and plants have co-evolved into relationships that have worked for eons, producing beauty and food for global populations; now, bees are facing many challenges. Learn how native plants can support and improve life for bees.

2. For the Birds: Providing Food the Natural Way with Greg Harber

We appreciate native plants for their biological richness, colorful blooms and abundant fruit. Often overlooked is their important role as food sources for our native wildlife, including birds. Learn which species of native plants are favored by the numerous resident and migratory birds that inhabit the southeast.

3. Viburnums and Dogwoods: Ten Excellent Native Species for Southern Gardens with Gil Nelson

These five native dogwoods and five native viburnums make excellent garden subjects. Their moderate size, attractive form, pleasing foliage, variation in habit, big bang flowering and ease of culture, make them perfect candidates for cultivated landscapes.

4. Exploring the Allure of Native Azaleas with Rick Lewandowski

As a group, native azaleas are among the most attractive, yet under-appreciated native shrubs, flowering – often with intoxicating fragrances – from March to July. Learn about the culture and ornamental attributes of these wonderful species.

5. Propagating Native Plants that Benefit Wildlife with Jan Midgely

Obtaining less-than-common native plant species can be challenging. Overcome this obstacle by propagating your own plants from seeds of local provenance. The emphasis in this talk is on native shrubs and perennials that are food sources for butterflies and moths.

1. Growing Native Trees from Seed – Oaks, Hickories

and Others with Henry Hughes
Explore techniques for growing our large native trees (many of which are hard-to-find) from locally collected seed. Participants will be given samples of local seed, with instructions on storage, germination, planting and after-care.

2. Butterflies and Native Plants: Close-up Looks at the Big Picture with Sara Bright & Paulette Ogard

Glimpses into the everyday lives of butterflies include native plants – some often-overlooked – which provide primary food, shelter, and reproduction sites. Basic butterfly biology, as well as the interrelationships between several southeastern species and their caterpillar host plants, will be explored.

3. Plant Exploration: More than a Walk in the Woods with Fred Spicer

This overview of Birmingham Botanical Gardens' southeastern plant exploration efforts, illustrates goals, procedures, partners and results. Highlights of collecting trips will take us on a whirlwind journey throughout Alabama's myriad hills, valleys, outcrops and wetlands.

4. Edible Natives with Tony Glover

Learn about the culture of some well-known, and get to know a few of the lesser-known native fruits of the Southeast – long used by locals. Generally, these fruits look at home in our landscapes, are pest–resistant and easy to grow.

5. Best Native Ferns for the Southeast with

Eleanor Craig

Ferns are interesting, important and attractive members of our native ecosystems. This presentation discusses a variety of native ferns, their habitats, characteristics, as well as preferred locations and adaptability in cultivated landscapes.

2. For the Birds: Providing Food the Natural Way with Greg Harber

We appreciate native plants for their biological richness, colorful blooms and abundant fruit. Often overlooked is their important role as food sources for our native wildlife, including birds. Learn which species of native plants are favored by the numerous resident and migratory birds that inhabit the southeast.

5. The Effect of Invasive Plants on our Native Flora

with Loretta Lynne Weninegar
Since the 1400s the biodiversity of our country has been changed by the introduction of non-native species, sometimes with disastrous impacts to native species. Learn how you can help curb the influence of some of the more common non-native invasive plants that may be lurking nearby.

1. The Regional Ecology of Mosses with Paul Davison
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve (30 min. travel time)

Mosses and liverworts add something special to local woodlands. Beyond softening the landscape, mosses provide essential habitats for numerous creatures. Plan to see a diversity of mosses and liverworts and learn of their habitat requirements and impact in local ecosystems.

2. Forest Ecology with Henry Hughes
Homewood Forest Preserve (15 min. travel time)

This 65-acre public woodland on Shades Mountain complements an adjacent 47-acre parcel recently placed under the protection of the Freshwater Land Trust. The plant list is extensive due to the change in elevation and habitat, and large native trees dominate.

3. Hikin’ for Lichens – Our Important Lower Plant Forms with Carl Sloan
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (35 min travel time) Max. 20

Participants will examine a variety of mosses, liverworts, and lichens – the ancestors of all modern plants. Even a short walk reveals a surprising diversity of form and function, beauty and ecological importance, guaranteed to delight and challenge the most ardent scientist or tranquil naturalist.

4. Never Enough Natives!– An In-depth Look at the Native Plant Collections of Birmingham Botanical Gardens with John Manion (Max 20)

The Kaul Wildflower Garden, Barber Alabama Woodlands and Bog Garden house BBG’s extensive native plant collections. Each has its own character and will be visited to see an excellent representation of how Alabama’s native flora changes with the approach of autumn.

5. Pruning: Be Not Afraid! with Fred Spicer
Birmingham Botanical Garden (Max 20)

In this practical and pragmatic approach to pruning, learn how plants respond to pruning, and how proper techniques enhance natural growth habits and wound closure processes. Numerous examples using native and non-native plants will be examined in The Gardens' living collections.

6. Saving a Swamp with Mike Hardig
Ebenezer Swamp (travel time 35 min.) (Max. 20)

Upland hardwood swamps are one of the fastest disappearing types of wetlands in the southeastern US. Learn about the ecology, conservation, and value of wetland services, and the various activities that adversely impact them.

7. Native Plants in an Urban Oasis with Lea Ann MackNally
Railroad Park (Max. 25)

Plants selected for urban landscapes must withstand environmental and social influences, particularly so in places that encourage interaction with nature, such as public parks. You will learn the factors behind plant selection for an urban park, such as durability, aesthetics, maintenance and security, for which natives have inherent adaptability.

8. Natives in Community Design with Rip Weaver
Mount Laurel Community (Max. 25)

Founded in 1998, this traditional neighborhood was designed in concert with nature and native plants, allowing only an extremely limited list of exotic plants in areas visible from streets and sidewalks. Every effort was made to preserve the existing character of the land, including preserving existing plants.