By Teri Silver

The future revolves around the present–and what we’re teaching our children in and out of the classroom. Environmental science is a part of that because native plants bring about ecological generations of life.

In Kentucky, teaching about native plants in the classroom is necessary for the future of our environment and the cycle of vegetative life that thrives in the Bluegrass State.

by Anne Milligan

For those unfamiliar with our Kentucky native plants and seeds swap groups, I’d like to first give a brief history of its origins and then provide an update for everyone.

In 2010, my husband Stephen Brown and I moved to a property next to some woods in southeast Jefferson County and proceeded to create a native plants habitat. The project is detailed up to 2021 in our book “Let the Earth Breathe: Gardening with Native Plants”

At the beginning of the project, we could not have imagined the communities that would eventually form around the growing and sharing of native seeds and plants. It has been one of the more profound experiences of our lives. So many members at our gatherings feel as if we are meeting our “tribe” once again. We seem to instantly connect and have so much fun. SO grateful for Facebook’s “Groups” feature, which has allowed us to connect and organize events all over the state. While our goal has always had a single focus, to increase the diversity of Kentucky native plant species throughout our larger Louisville region, the laughter and fun at swap events makes a huge difference in terms of drawing and retaining new “converts” to our cause. I, personally, spent untold hours devoted to creating and guiding an ethos that is not top-heavy, sour in tone, exclusive, or hierarchical in form. I truly believe keeping swap events free of commercial enterprises represents the underlying philosophy of our movement and why so many people are drawn to it and stay with it.

Regarding local native plants nurseries: we have actively advertised their services from the very beginning and, at times, invite them to sell their plants at homeowners’ garden tours. These are not official swaps and are totally at the discretion of individual property owners.

Although I started and guided the Louisville Citywide swap movement in the first few years, I stepped away from that all-consuming role, fully trusting that the emerging regional swap leaders would develop their own unique ways of carrying out our common goal. And they have done just that, and more. In the meantime, I am actively spreading the good news of Kentucky native plants in our own neighborhood, hoisting plants and seeds on neighbors wherever I can.

Below you will find links to some of the most outstanding regional swap groups: Please consider joining some of the groups to keep up with community outreach events and possibly form your own swap group wherever you happen to live. I truly hope you will consider it, if one does not currently exist close by. The diversity of plant species and their pollinators seems to increase exponentially in areas where active native plants swap groups are present. We have definitely seen this in our neighborhoods, where “pollinator corridors” are forming from neighbor to neighbor, neighborhood to neighborhood, neighborhoods to regions, etc. It’s an incredibly meaningful thing to be a part of, so don’t hesitate to dive in wherever and however you can.

Links to some of the groups’ Facebook pages:
Central Louisville (Close to University of Louisville) (A most wise, creative, and welcoming leader in Chelley McMahon).
Fairdale to Bernheim Forest (Thanks to insightful leadership from Kristina Johnson, this group is situated perfectly for creating more woodland/wetlands pollinator corridors with native species).
Southeast to Southwest Louisville (Amazing leadership and much education from Julie Speedy, Tyler Lloyd and others).
Hardin County (Impressive community outreach, including a seed library, by Chris and Dani Everson and others).
Kentuckiana
Bullitt and Nelson Counties
Northeast Louisville (Lyndon area)
Central Louisville (Close to the Louisville Nature Center)

Lastly, to those who felt offended by my rather abrupt closing of the Louisville Citywide swap group, I apologize. Like all my predecessors, I have never been one who shies away from what I truly believe is the correct approach for the greater good, and am accustomed to the resistance my actions seem to draw up when we would rather “nest” than expand. I am so impressed by each of the regional swap leaders who have persevered, continuing to creatively envision a better future for our beautiful indigenous Kentucky landscapes and communities. Let’s keep going!

Anne Milligan
Louisville, Kentucky

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

By Susan Harkins and Paula Mullins

It’s that time of year, and you’re in luck if a gardener is on your gift list. If you’re the gardener, send a link to this article to all of you secret Santas!

Passionate gardeners are probably the easiest people to please. If you’re close, you might already know that they’re searching for a specific orchid or drooling over a new set of shiny loppers. On the other hand, if you’re not sure, we can help.

Close to the holidays, you can purchase traditional holiday plants most anywhere. Amaryllis, paperwhites, and holiday cacti will show up everywhere and they’re affordable. They’re not natives, and not all gardeners are keen on house plants; if they don’t have any, skip this suggestion.

Tools are personal, but a gardener can almost always use a new set of good hand pruners, a hori knife, or a good pruning saw. A gardener can never have too many pairs of gardening shears, and they come in all sizes. If your gardening friend tends to lose tools (I know I do), a tool apron might be high on their list. It should have lots of pockets in different widths and lengths to corral they’re favorite hand tools.

By Teri Silver

Fall is a good time for planting flowers and greenery because native perennials develop stronger root structures as the weather gets colder. Fortunately, Kentucky is home to many native trees, flowers, herbs, and grasses, that you can add to your garden in the fall. There’s nothing like enjoying nature in the bluegrass state.

When choosing native plants for your landscape or garden, implement integrated pest management strategies to keep your yard and garden from being chewed up by bugs. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an eco-friendly approach to preventing pests in the garden with as little pesticide as possible.  

Kentucky’s native plants include trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, but native perennial flowers do more to add color to your homestead. Here are a few to consider when planting this fall. The following natives, planted in fall, are a great way to add specific colors and more natives to your flower beds.