Program
And more to come...2022 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
RICK DARKE
Pennsylvania-based consultant, author, and photographer Rick Darke’s work is grounded in an observational ethic that blends ecology, horticulture, and cultural geography in the design and stewardship of living landscapes.
DR. JENNIFER D. ROBERTS
Dr. Roberts is the Founder and Director of the Public Health Outcomes and Effects of the Built Environment (PHOEBE) Laboratory as well as the Co-Founder and Co-Director of NatureRx@UMD
NINA-MARIE LISTER
Nina-Marie Lister is Professor and Graduate Director in the School of Urban & Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson U) and Visiting Professor of Landscape Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
PROGRAM
The virtual Plan It Native Conference offers concurrent sessions as shown below; Tracks include Beginning with Native Plants, Design & Fundamentals, Gardens & Community Spaces and Large Landscapes.
Day 1
14 Sep 2022
Day 2
15 Sep 2022
Day 3
16 Sep 2022
Roundtable: Beginning with Native Plants, Ask the Experts
September 14, 10am • You viewed all the Beginner’s Track videos, took your notes, and developed a long list of questions. Now what?! Let our expert panel answer those questions, point... Read More
Lydia Gibson
Sarah Beier
Roberta Vogel-Leutung
Matt Bunch
1:25 pm CST
What Is Wild and Why It Matters
September 14, 12:00pm • A well-made garden should be full of life, human and otherwise, providing infinite daily opportunities to experience that glorious multiplicity of things and living processes. Inviting a... Read More
Rick Darke
1:30 PM CST
Landscape Maintenance Practices that Support Pollinators and Keep Your Neighbors Happy
September 14, 1:30pm • Supporting pollinators in a neighborhood can be a tricky proposition. Homeowners associations, social norms, and neighbor relationships all play a role. Traditional landscaping techniques in many neighborhoods... Read More
Paul Brown
1:30pm
Creating Eco-conscious Neighborhoods: A Developer’s Experience
September 14, 1:30pm • Dig deep into the “green” history of Lee’s Summit-based residential developments and their use of sustainable practices—everything from land planning to native planting to community features. The... Read More
Cutter Gale
Hunter Gale
1:30pm
The Joys and Challenges of Working with Wild Spaces: Part 1 – Ecological Restoration
September 14, 1:30pm • Restoring ecological systems comes with multiple challenges, especially when the landscapes are fragmented and full of invasive species and other threats. Explore a variety of restoration projects,... Read More
Chris Helzer
3:00 PM
The Incredible Editable Native Plant Garden
September 14, 3:00pm • The “incredible editable native garden” is an accessible approach to urban native landscaping that starts with simple DIY design and develops over time with thoughtful maintenance practices.... Read More
Cydney Ross
Alix Daniel
Not in My Front Yard: Green Street Rain Gardens, Aesthetics, and Social Values
September 14, 3:00pm • Rain gardens seem like a benign way to treat stormwater runoff. However, there can be public resistance when this type of green stormwater infrastructure is installed... Read More
Eliza Pennypacker
Kate Cholakis
3:00pm
The Joys and Challenges of Working with Wild Spaces: Part 2 — Land Stewardship
September 14, 3:00 pm • Humans have served as stewards for the land for as long as humanity has existed. We face some new and daunting challenges these days, but also... Read More
Chris Helzer
1:05pm CST
Secret Life of Plants: A Celebration of Nature’s Gift to Humankind
September 15, 12:00pm • Alice Walker, an esteemed novelist and confirmed naturalist, once said “healing begins where the wound was made.” Wounds from pandemic despair, desertion, and other difficulties remind us... Read More
Dr. Jennifer D. Roberts
1:30 PM
The Soil Resource as the Basis for Life
September 15, 1:30pm • To truly understand native planting, you must dig deep into the science of soil. In this session, learn about how soil serves as the living terrestrial matrix... Read More
Robert L. Kremer
1:30 PM
Hope in Collaboration: Landscape Level Engagement for Monarchs and Pollinators
September 15, 1:30pm • Monarch butterflies, which many view as a symbol of hope and renewal, are on the verge of being listed on the US Endangered Species Act. With a... Read More
Christine Sanderson
1:30pm
Pathway to a Joyous Landscape: Plant Native Plants!
September 15, 1:30pm • Reflect on the joy and wonder that native plants can inspire in this session tracing one person’s inspirational landscaping journey. Alan Branhagen will walk you through the... Read More
Alan Branhagen
3:00 pm
Soil Health and Sustainable Soil Management
September 15, 3:00pm • Soil health has several definitions but all emphasize soil’s functional capacity to sustain biological activity, maintain air and water quality, and promote plant, animal and human health.... Read More
Robert L. Kremer
3:00 pm
Greening Vacant Land with Native Plants as Bee Habitat
September 15, 3:00pm • Explore the Cleveland Pocket Prairie Project, a network of 64 vacant lots planted with eight distinct plant communities across eight neighborhoods within the City of Cleveland. Learn... Read More
Dr. Mary Gardiner
Roundtable: Meeting the Increased Demand for Native Plants
Learn how experts in the field of native plants navigate the challenges of meeting the increasing demand for native plants. From sourcing, transportation, species selection to ensuring their integrity, this... Read More
Mervin Wallace
Natasha Thomas-North
Claudio Vazquez
8:00 am
Rooftops – The Next Frontier For Native Planting; Lessons From Chicago
September 16, 8am • Chicago has long been a leader in the green roof movement, from glitzy amenity decks to native prairies 10 stories in the sky. Join Chicago-based Landscape Architect... Read More
Matthew Strange
8:00 AM CST
Roundtable: Ask a Land Manager
September 16, 8:00 am • Ask this expert panel your questions about managing large and small landscapes, anything from prescribed burns, dealing with invasives, to the best seed mix combinations. This... Read More
Josh Cussimanio
Andy Carmack
Aimee Coy
8:00am CST
Supporting Keystones- Providing Insect Sanctuary
September 16, 8:00 am • Dive into this fundamental session on providing sanctuary for insects of all types. Planting host plants is vital. Planting nectar plants is also vital. Once the... Read More
Paula Diaz
9:30 am
Funding Private Land Projects
September 16, 9:30 am • Finding the resources needed to fund native prairies, woodland restorations, stormwater solutions, or habitat restoration in private properties can be an overwhelming barrier. Learn what programs... Read More
Andy Carmack
Tim McCoy
9:30 am
Garden Maintenance for Wildlife: A New Way to Garden
September 16, 9:30am • How do you maximize plant and wildlife diversity in your yard and still have time to enjoy it? Learn about different landscape styles and the latest eye-popping... Read More
Scott Woodbury
9:30 am
Wisdom of the Wilds
September 16, 9:30 am • In this session, explore the use of wild edible and medicinal plants growing in the heartland. You will also learn about the deep connections between edible... Read More
Kelly Daniels
11:00 am CST
Challenging Lawn Order: Barriers, Bylaws and the Biophilic City
September 16, 11am • Many cities in North America are adopting and enacting policies that support and encourage native plant and wildlife diversity (biodiversity). In the face of climate change, ecological... Read More
Nina-Marie Lister
Field Trips
2022 Field Trips
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
O’Fallon Park Field Trip
Explore the historic O’Fallon Park: a municipal park in St. Louis, Missouri, that opened in 1908. This treasured park, for more than 100 years, has stood as a beacon to the neighborhoods it... Read More
Angie Weber
Aisha Muhammad
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
(SMSD) Native Prairie & Revitalized Entry Garden Field Trip
Tour this school district site in Overland Park containing three distinct ecological treasures on a relatively small footprint: a planted prairie, bioswales for stormwater filtration and run-off, and a large... Read More
Judd Remmers
Dr. Leigh Anne Neal
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Urban Gardens Tour Field Trip
Tour three stunning and remarkable urban native gardens in the heart of Kansas City. Meet the homeowners who took on native landscapes with gusto, and created amazing native gardens teeming... Read More
Eric Tschanz
Kenn Boyle
Steve Oakes
Roberta Vogel-Leutung
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Prairie Birthday Farm Field Trip
Tours of the Farm are an educational experience and include much more than a walk around the property. There is a generous hour of visiting multiple production areas with detailed discussions... Read More
Linda F. Hezel
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Habitat Architects Private Lands Field Trip
Visit an approximately 250-acre private land restoration that includes numerous habitat types in different stages of restoration. Participants will get a firsthand look at what restoration efforts look like over time... Read More
Shannon Tyree