SG553: How Native Plants Bring Nature Home with Peggy Anne Montgomery

Why don’t you share a little bit about you life, your career in horticulture – and don’t forget the good parts during your time in Minnesota – you’re from White Bear Lake!!

Time Stamp: 29:30

So, when you’re working with American Beauty, can people buy directly from American Beauty or do they sell only to nurseries?

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I just so enjoyed your presentation during the reception on Night 2 of the GB Fling and I’m so happy that you can share it with my listeners. Can you introduce this presentation and maybe a personal comment or two on your passion for growing Native Plants?

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In terms of attitudes towards the American native plant movement, so much has changed, hasn’t it?

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Let’s start with how you define Native Plants.

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Is there a divide between Team Native vs. Team Exotic?

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I thought it would be fun to go through some Native Plant Myths. I got these myths and fact from Vera Strader. Myth #1 – Native Plants are nothing but brush

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Myth #2 – Roadside Ditches contain Native Plants

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Myth #3 - Native plants will take over your yard.

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Myth #4 - Native Plants need no water

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Myth #5 - Native Plants bring in bad bugs

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We’d be remiss to talk about Native Plants without discussing how they have adapted to regions over time.

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There are so many benefits to Native Plants – to people and wildlife. Why don’t you review some of the best aspects of introducing more Native Plants into the garden.

Time Stamp: 56:55

In the presentation, you said, “Native plants give us a sense of place”. Do you have some iconic native plants that stand out in your mind as a lover of gardens from all over the world?

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You also reference the importance of basic good rules of horticulture for planting natives – like right plant, right place. Any other pieces of advice, especially regarding the design esthetics?

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You are a wonderful champion of biodiversity, which is sadly in decline. There are contributing factors that you feel are especially detrimental and that people need to be aware of. What are they?

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In your talk, you especially took some time out to talk about the birds and the bees. I loved these slides and the powerful and informative facts you shared.

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As a writer yourself, you call on garden communicators to encourage their readers to take small steps toward building wildlife habitats. There is a growing awareness, isn’t there?

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Any closing thoughts on Native Plants?

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