2nd Annual Midwest Native Plant Conference 2010 Aug 6,7 & 8

You won't want to miss the 2nd Annual MWNP Conference! ~ And, it's not too late to register. Conference Mission: Connecting People and Nature.

Learn about the important role of native plants in supporting our natural environment by attending the 2nd Annual Midwest Native Plant Conference, August 6, 7 & 8, 2010, at the Bergamo Center in Dayton, Ohio. Bergamo Center is located on the campus of Mount St. John, a beautiful 150-acre campus property. The Mount St. John Nature Preserve was named an Ohio Natural Landmark by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in 1988, recognizing it as "an outstanding environmental education area possessing exceptional value in illustrating and interpreting the natural heritage of Ohio." Download a nature trail guide of the MSJ Preserve. The land is managed by the Marianist Environmental and Education Center (MEEC). Through Meec's "research and restoration of six ecosystems on 100 acres of land at Mount St. John and scientific team provides opportunities for learning about land management and participating in ecological research".You will learn from experts about native landscaping, forests, wetlands, and prairies, together with the diverse wildlife that lives in these native habitats, through lectures, field trips and workshops. A Keynote speaker will be featured each day of the conference. There will be a variety of breakout sessions on various topics, such as native plant basics and propagation, summer wildflowers, butterflies and native goldenrods.

Our vendors will offer native plants, books, artwork and other items that will help you in understanding and enjoying the benefits of going native. Vendors will be open to the public on Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Each day of the conference we will offer informative tours and field trips to a wide variety of habitats to identify native plants, birds, butterflies, insects and other wildlife within easy driving distance of the Dayton area.

Our Saturday night banquet keynote, Julie Zickefoose, is a widely published natural history writer and artist. Julie provides monthly commentary for National Public Radio and brings the natural world to almost 14,000 readers monthly with her daily blog. Julie never tires of roaming her 80-acre wildlife sanctuary in Whipple, OH. She has a deep relationship with the land that is the wellspring for her writing and art.

On Friday evening, Wil Hershberger, author of “The Songs of Insects” will take us on a journey to learn more about the sounds of summer. Learn more about the natural history of insects, the importance to our world, ID tips and an appreciation of insect song. An evening field trip will be offered after the talk to look and listen for insects and other creatures of the night.

Sunday morning speaker will be Judy Semroc, a Conservation Specialist for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (Natural Areas Division). Utilizing macrophotography and the incredible natural palette that is exhibited by animals and plants, Judy will convey the important relationships between pollinators and the plants they require.

In addition, scholarships are available for young naturalists (and special rates for college students) between the ages of 9-19. For details, contact Kathy McDonald at 513.941.6497. Visit the conference website at: http://www.cincinnatibirds.com/mwnp.

We hope to see you there!

Midwest Native Plant Conference- August 6th-8th

The 2nd Annual Midwest Native Plant Conference will take place August 6, 7 & 8, 2010, at the Bergamo Center in Dayton, Ohio. Attendees will enjoy learning from experts on a wide array of topics associated with native plants.

Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis

A different keynote speaker will be featured each day of the conference. Friday evening’s speaker is Wil Hershberger, co-author of “The Songs of Insects”. Wil will open a door to the fascinating world of insects and their songs. One will definitely come away with an appreciation of insects and their importance to our world after hearing Wil’s talk. Afterwards, an evening field trip will be offered to look and listen for insects and other nocturnal animals. You can also visit his blog, here.

Purple Coneflower, Echinacea Purpurea

The Saturday evening banquet will feature artist and writer Julie Zickefoose. Julie is a widely published natural history writer and artist. She is a monthly commentator for National Public Radio and has a popular blog with almost 14,000 readers each month. Julie lives with her family on an 80-acre wildlife sanctuary near Whipple, OH. Her daily walks on the property bring inspiration for her artwork and writings.

Judy Semroc, a Conservation Specialist for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (Natural Areas Division), will be the Sunday morning speaker. Judy will use macrophotography to demonstrate the unique botanical structures and feeding adaptations found within the important relationships between native plants and their pollinators. Tips on how to enhance the garden to attract pollinators will also be covered.

Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa

Saturday morning will provide breakout sessions on a large variety of native plant topics. Native plant propagation, native woody plants, summer wildflowers, survival strategies of plants, butterfly gardening, rain gardens and goldenrods are just a few of the subjects.

Field trips and tours will be offered each day. Early arrivals will be treated to a session by Macy Reynolds on using Newcomb’s field guide to identify plants. Friday and Saturday evening will have a guided tour on the grounds to identify singing insects and other nocturnal life. On Saturday, there will be an early morning bird walk. Sunday, after the keynote speech, attendees will depart for field trips in the Dayton/Springfield area. There are twelve different field trips from which to choose. Cedar Bog, Possum Creek MetroPark, Prairie Road Fen, Gallagher Fen, Germantown MetroPark and Beaver Creek Wetlands are just a few of the destinations.

Vendors will be on hand with native plants, books, artwork and other items that will help one appreciate the benefits of going native. Vendors will also be open to the general public on Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm


Master Gardeners and Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists may use these events for accredited hours and educational requirements. Also, there will be a limited number of scholarships for young naturalists and to Ohio Young Birders, aged 10-18. These scholarships are to help young people connect with nature. If you are interested in getting more information about scholarships, or in donating to the scholarship fund, please contact Kathy McDonald at whocooksforyou@gmail.com or call 513.941.6497


The conference is held at the Bergamo Center, located on the campus of Mount St. John, a beautiful 150-acre property. The Mount St. John Nature Preserve was named an Ohio Natural Landmark by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in 1988, recognizing it as "an outstanding environmental education area possessing exceptional value in illustrating and interpreting the natural heritage of Ohio." The land is managed by the Marianist Environmental and Education Center(MEEC).

For more information and to register for the Midwest Native Plant Conference, please visit our website at http://cincinnatibirds.com/mwnp/ Proceeds from the 2010 conference will Beaver Creek Wetlands Association, The Sunshine Corridor Project and MEEC .