By Jakub Głuszek

Editors’ Note: This article is republished with permission from the Old Oldham Era. Jakub won third place in the statewide 2023 Jim Claypool Art and Conservation Writing Contest. Jakub is a junior in high school in Oldham county.

In my home country, we didn’t see much wildlife. The occasional deer or pheasant wandering across the field adjacent to our house was enough to spark excitement in my family. In Europe, 18% of vertebrates and 24% of invertebrates are threatened with extinction, while dozens of other species have already disappeared. This massive decline was caused by hundreds of years of unsustainable land exploitation. The European Union has done its best to reverse this loss, but the damage has already been done. This was the reality that my parents and I were used to…until we moved to Kentucky. Suddenly I found myself in a place where deer are a garden nuisance, where bears surprise unsuspecting hikers, where hummingbirds dash between suburban woodlots, and where nature seems to have retained much of its wild vigor. In Kentucky, there is hope for the fantastic array of wildlife and the ecosystems they inhabit to be preserved for future generations. Although it’s too late for some, like green-blossom pearly mussels and Bachman’s warblers, it’s crucial that people take action to ensure that other species don’t go down the same path.

One of the most important ways that wildlife can be preserved is through habitat conservation. Organisms cannot survive without the place and conditions that have shaped their evolution, because their adaptations only work for those conditions. Habitat conservation is preserving certain types of habitat in order to preserve the species that depend on it. Today, many habitats in Kentucky have been degraded by pollution, mining, clearcutting, agriculture, urban sprawl, alterations to natural water flow, and invasive species. The destruction of habitat has had a widespread and noticeable impact on Kentucky. Runoff from mining operations and dam construction caused native mussels to decline rapidly. Destruction of prairies and milkweed plants crashed populations of the monarch butterfly. Invasive feral pigs outcompete turkeys and small mammals for food. This is why it’s important to conserve the remaining pieces of healthy habitat by protecting them from these threats. State and federal action has been taken to conserve habitat by setting aside areas to be protected (ex: Jefferson Memorial Forest), but in a state where 95% of the land is privately owned, the importance of landowners in habitat management cannot be understated.

Habitat conservation is essential, but it’s not enough to indefinitely support Kentucky’s wildlife. Currently, only 7% of the state is protected land. And while half of Kentucky’s land area is forested, most of these forests are small, disjunct woodlots consisting mostly of edge habitat. Edge habitat is prone to invasion by exotic species, and doesn’t provide the stable conditions required by many organisms. Furthermore, some habitats have been almost completely destroyed, such as prairies and wetlands. There simply isn’t enough of these habitats left to support the unique organisms that depend on them. That is why there needs to be habitat restoration. There are multiple ways to go about this. One of these is forming wildlife corridors. Wildlife corridors are strips of habitat that are created to join natural areas with each other. This is important because many patches of habitat in Kentucky are too small to provide enough resources for some species, and their disjointedness makes it difficult for migratory animals to travel. Linking together these bits of habitat effectively creates a web of nature that allows species to successfully forage and migrate.

Another method of habitat restoration is the restoration of natural processes. For example, fire was an essential component of Kentucky’s landscape, and maintained large tracts of prairie throughout the state. However, fire suppression by European settlers caused most of these prairies to develop into closed-canopy woodland, thereby eliminating the open grassland habitat necessary for wildlife like the elk and greater prairie chicken. Returning fire to the landscape would help restore these habitats. In Eastern Kentucky, Native Americans used fire for thousands of years to maintain grasslands and savannas, in order to support elk. When settlers arrived, they not only stopped this fire regime and let the grasslands turn to forest, but extensively hunted the elk. Unsurprisingly, elk were soon extirpated from the state. Yet, for the last twenty years, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has been prescribe-burning land reclaimed from mining operations to support elk reintroduction. Originally, 1,500 elk were brought in from western states. Now, 10,000 elk roam the mountains of Kentucky, proving the importance of fire in habitat restoration. The discussion on habitat restoration would not be complete without mentioning native plants. Being autotrophs, native plants are the foundation of all local ecosystems, and restoring habitat often starts with restoring them. For many insects, their habitats are the native plants themselves. Take the case of the endangered monarch butterfly. Their whole life cycle revolves around a single genus of plants: the milkweeds. When milkweeds declined because of human activity, so did monarchs. When conservation agencies encouraged people to plant milkweeds, monarch population increased. This rather simple way of restoring habitat via native plants is extensively discussed by entomologist Douglas Tallamy in his book, Bringing Nature Home, and is an important strategy for supporting wildlife in suburban areas.

Although Kentucky has changed drastically since the arrival of settlers, much of the indigenous fauna has persisted to this day. However, threats to the state’s rich animal diversity have not only increased, but become more numerous with time. Wildlife conservation—through the protection and restoration of habitat, and restoration of native vegetation—is the only logical path forward. Ignorance of this matter would spell disaster not just for the animals themselves, but for Kentucky’s environment as a whole. Similarly, we cannot treat habitat management as purely the responsibility of conservation agencies, as Kentucky is almost entirely private property. It’s imperative that everyone takes steps to support wildlife conservation, whether it’s by incorporating native plants into their landscapes or advocating for the protection of wild areas. It’s our responsibility, as stewards of this state, to ensure a biodiverse and sustainable future for the next generations by preserving land and keeping it wild

Works Cited
Abernathy, Greg. “A Natural Commonwealth – KNLT.” Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, 9 February 2016, https://knlt.org/a-natural-commonwealth/. Accessed 26 November 2023.
“Art and Writing Contest – Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.” Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, https://eec.ky.gov/Natural-Resources/Conservation/Pages/Art-and-Writing-Contest.aspx. Accessed 26 November 2023.
Davis, Josh. “One fifth of all species in Europe threatened with extinction.” Natural History
Museum, 9 November 2023, https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2023/november/one-fifth-of-all-species-in-europethreatened-with-extinction.html. Accessed 26 November 2023.
“Europe – Wildlife, Fauna, Ecosystems.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe/Animal-life. Accessed 26 November 2023.
“Habitat | Biodiversity, Ecosystems & Conservation.” Britannica, 9 October 2023, https://www.britannica.com/science/habitat-biology. Accessed 26 November 2023.
“Improve Your Land for Wildlife – Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife.” Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, https://fw.ky.gov/Wildlife/Pages/Improve-Your-Land-for-Wildlife.aspx. Accessed 26 November 2023.
Lavaty, Greg. “Greater Prairie-Chicken.” American Bird Conservancy, https://abcbirds.org/bird/greater-prairie-chicken/. Accessed 27 November 2023.
Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded. Timber Press, 2009.
“U.S. Wildlife officials declare two Ky. native species, seven Tenn. species extinct.” WKMS, 17
October 2023, https://www.wkms.org/environment/2023-10-17/u-s-wildlife-officials-declare-two-ky-native-species-seven-tenn-species-extinct. Accessed 26 November 2023.
“Wild Pig Home – Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife.” Kentucky Fish and Wildlife https://fw.ky.gov/InvasiveSpecies/Pages/Wild-Pig-Home.aspx. Accessed 26 November
2023.

Greetings, I’m Jakub Głuszek, a junior at North Oldham High School. Originally from Poland, my family and I moved to Kentucky as expats in 2015. I’ve always had a fascination with nature, which now fuels my ambition to delve deeper into ecology and botany in college. I volunteer at Ironweed Native Plant Nursery in Waddy, where I find inspiration from individuals who have turned their passion into a profession. I enjoy exploring wild areas, growing native plants, and traveling.

Jonathan Omar Cole Kubesch, an associate editor and contributor to The Ladyslipper, graduated with his PhD in Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences from Virginia Tech on December 15, 2023.

Jonathan has been an advocate for native plants and ecosystems in unconventional spaces throughout the Midwest and Upper South. His doctoral work was part of a National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant regarding bee-friendly beef. Jonathan’s work focused on the establishment of complex native grass and wildflower mixtures in grazing systems to enhance livestock productivity and welfare as well as provide resources to native pollinators.

Jonathan’s dissertation abstract is presented below:

“Tall fescue grasslands are the dominant form of grasslands in the North American transition zone, however, warm-season forages provide necessary forage for livestock in the summer. Pollinators require steady forage availability in the same fashion as cattle. Native warm-season grasses (NWSG) and wildflowers (WF) could be incorporated into tall fescue (TF) grasslands to improve pollinator resources within agricultural landscapes without sacrificing livestock production. This balance of ecosystem services can be considered bee-friendly beef. Previous establishment experiments suggest that bee-friendly beef is a possibility, although establishment and persistence of NWSG-WF stands warrants additional research. Three small plot experiments were conducted to evaluate different planting methods designed to optimize establishment of NWSG-WF stands. Additionally, a grazing study examined whether NWSG-WF pasture enhancement could improve animal performance in TF grazing systems. The small plot experiments experienced extreme weed competition in the establishment year, although plots with higher NWSG content had fewer weeds over time. Floral production was comparable across treatment, which suggests lower WF seeding rates can generate comparable pollinator resources. Major findings from these experiments suggested that spatial or temporal separation of NWSGWF was unnecessary to generate successful establishment, varying the ratio of NWSG-WF in seed mixtures produced similar establishment outcomes, and that adding companion crops to NWSG-WF mixtures did not improve establishment success appreciably. In the grazing experiment, animal performance was improved in the biodiverse grazing systems when heifers 3 had access to the NWSG. Biodiverse and shaded grazing systems modified animal behavior and reduced body temperature relative to control grazing systems, although only biodiverse grazing systems improved animal performance. Native WF species failed to establish within the biodiverse grazing system, but white clover provided all subsequent floral production. Establishing WF in pastures is challenging and warrants additional study on more effective weed control strategies and systems to ensure establishment success. Selecting WF for agronomic performance or breeding such plant material will be necessary to improve emergence and establishment dynamics. Ideally trait data can identify the optimal WF species for specific grazing systems. Biodiverse NWSG-WF can be highly effective at improving summer weight gain in beef cattle. Future studies should focus on finding a more optimal balance of NWSG, WF, and TF that can benefit beef cattle production, pollinator services, and ecosystem services regarding soil and water quality, as well as pasture resiliency to dynamic conditions.”

By Emilie Grace Yochim

When winter creeps in with her cold, frosty air, and gloomy, shorter days, most gardeners can only think about one thing: next year’s flower garden. Well, at least, that’s what runs through my mind. How can I keep myself busy with my garden over the dreary days of winter? Two words: winter sowing.

Winter sowing is a fun, cost effective way to prepare for next summer’s native garden. Defined, winter sowing is a way to start seeds outdoors during the winter months. It is particularly useful for any seeds that require a period of cold, moist stratification to break dormancy and germinate. Another advantage of winter sowing is that you end up with plants that are hardier, and acclimated to the temperature swings. Also, you don’t need to start seeds indoors using fancy grow lights or an expensive greenhouse! 

When to start

When to start? Most winter sowers begin their project on the winter solstice. Typically, you will start with your seeds that need the longest period of time to break dormancy. Those would be the seeds that need 60 to ­120 days of cold, moist stratification. You can winter sow as late as March using seeds that need less time or seeds that need no special treatment. 

What you need

What do I need to winter sow? Well, seeds would be at the top of the list! What “new to me” native plants and grasses would I like to add? What areas need more fillers to support the other plants I already have? Which plants did the pollinators love that I want to increase in number to support them? These are all questions you can ask yourself as you decide on seeds to grow.

Where can I get native seeds to winter sow? Some reliable sources to purchase native seeds include Roundstone Native Seed Company and Prairie Moon Nursery. You can also find native seed swaps in several groups on Facebook in Kentucky, including mine Pollinators, Poof Heads & Native Plants in Kentucky, where you can get seeds for free or a minimal fee to cover shipping costs. 

I have my seeds, now what? The following materials are what you’ll need on hand:

• Gallon milk jugs: The clear ones work best; recycle the caps as they aren’t needed; you can also use such things as two-liter soda bottles and rotisserie chicken containers.
• Potting soil: I tend to use Miracle Gro Potting Mix. Use whatever brand you prefer, but don’t use any that are labeled “moisture control.”
• Duct tape: For sealing jugs.
• Sharpie marker: You’ll want to identify the seeds in each jug. You could also place a plant marker on the inside of your jug.
• Box cutter: For cutting your jug.
• Drill, hot glue gun, or anything sharp you can safely use to make drainage holes in your jug.

The process

With all your materials gathered, you’re ready to start:

1. Using a drill, hot glue gun, or something sharp, make 6 to 8 drainage holes in the bottom of a milk jug. I go around the lower sides of the jug.
2. Use your box cutter to slice your jug from side to side, leaving the handle attached, about halfway down. Don’t cut the entire top portion of the jug; leave a few inches intact. The top will act as a lid that you can open and close.
3. Add 4 inches, or so, of wet potting soil into the bottom of the jug. 
4. Sow seeds according to directions. For example, you’ll sow some seeds on the surface and plant others at specific depths.
5. Close the lid, and tape the jug back together using duct tape.
6. Label the jug with your Sharpie. 

Once your jugs are filled and taped shut, place your jugs in an area with sun. Moisture (rain and snow) will enter through the top creating condensation (aka your greenhouse). You can spray the inside if things start to dry out. 

Now, sit back and let nature take its course! Once spring is here, and temperatures warm up, open your jugs. Be sure to water as needed. If we get a frost or freeze, put the lids back down or cover the jugs with a blanket. 

Once seedlings are ready to transplant in late spring, take them out of their containers, separate them in “hunks,” and plant them directly in the ground. If they’re small and still need more growing time, use the same method, but place them in pots to grow until they’re large enough to put in the ground. If your seedlings are large enough to separate, I’ll use Asclepias incarnata (Rose milkweed) as example, then by all means separate them instead of using the “hunk” method. 

Winter sowing helps us look forward to spring with the anticipation of new life growing in our containers and the pollinators that will enjoy them in the summer. It is a highly addictive project; you have been warned! I winter sowed over 130 containers last year, and I can say I likely won’t do as many this year, but then my plant pals who know me will just laugh and say, “yeah right.”

And, as always, please remember to support your local native plant growers. We need them to be successful in making native plants more accessible to the public and retailers!

Editors’ Note: You can follow Emilie’s backyard restoration by reading Replacing Invasives With Natives Is A Work Of Love.

Emilie Grace Yochim is a homeschooling mom to two teens and has been married to Philip for 20 years. Since 2019, Emilie has developed a slight obsession with pollinators, poof heads (bantam Satin and Silkie chickens), and native plants.

She enjoys educating others about planting natives and identifying pollinators by sharing pictures and information about the native plants, chickens, and wildlife in her yard. She also enjoys making terrible memes and puns that she finds hilarious.

By Anne Milligan

The Kentucky native plants/seed swap movement is now in its fourth year, and this is an update on our progress. As many of you know, our swaps began in 2019 in Louisville, when some of us realized that we needed a venue to share all the extra seeds and plants from our native habitats. As of August 2023, we have 10 regional swaps fanning out from Louisville in all directions and a Louisville citywide Facebook group of over 2,500 members.  

Our newest regional swap group is also a transitional moment for our greater swap network. A young lady in Somerset stepped up to host a swap group for the entire Pulaski County/Lake Cumberland area. She envisions that group as a hub for an expanding swap network independent of the Louisville one.

Our Louisville citywide “big swap” will take place at Jefferson Memorial Forest in Fairdale. The staff offered us the Horine Conference Center for free, and for that we are very grateful. Our big swap brings together the extra seeds accumulated from all the regional fall swaps that took place last November. Regional swap hosts will be present to help guide new folks on native gardening and to check for nonnative species, which we don’t want to spread around.

We’re happy to announce that this past year, many of us expanded into growing the earliest-blooming native species, or spring ephemerals, and we are excited to share those extra seeds in the years ahead at regional spring swaps.

Our goal is to increase the diversity of Kentucky native plant species, primarily by educating property owners/gardeners/landscapers via regional swap groups how to grow and share native species. We understand that, by doing so, we are joining  passionate groups of people all over the world who are helping to restore natural ecosystems essential for life on this planet. To keep up with the various swap events, please join our Louisville Citywide Facebook group by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/652100455295916

We encourage everyone to establish native plant swap events in every Kentucky county, administered by individuals who are passionate about native species. There has never been a more important time than now to use our own properties to restore native ecosystems, not just for ourselves but for all those who follow.

Editors’ Note: To learn how this group got started, read Follow A Growing Trend And Organize Your Own Seed Swap. Read a review of Anne’s book, “Let the Earth Breathe,” which she coauthored with her husband, Stephen Brown.

Anne Milligan is an artist, singer/musician, and landscape designer. She lives in Louisville, KY with her husband, author and historian Stephen A. Brown.