Designing Native Plant Gardens: Minimizing the Error in 'Trial and Error' - Mike Weis

Whether you are wondering how to get started with native plant gardening or have years of experience, this program is sure to have something for everyone. Experienced native plant gardener and designer Mike Weis will take us through the steps in the first garden he ever installed, starting in 2005. He will present a slideshow of images of this garden through the years to illustrate how some decisions/methods that were used worked well while others did not (hence the title).
Mike Weis is the owner of the Kalamazoo-based landscape company, Dropseed! Native Gardens and Ecological Restoration. He has been gardening with native plants since 2005. Weis also works seasonally for Hidden Savanna Native Plant Nursery and volunteers as an ecological steward for Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and Stewards of Kleinstuck, where he serves as a board member. Weis is also an accomplished percussionist, composer and conceptual photographer.

[@tylernardone3788]

One of the most useful native plant talks i've seen. Full of examples and actionable insights. Will be using this as reference for sure, thank you!!

[@lisamichele4152]

This was the best native plant presentation I've listened to. Since I'm still in the planning stages, this has definitely changed my selection of plants. Thank you.

[@LongislandnativeSanctuary]

Definitely great point about making it look good for the neighbors. also entices the neighbors to start their own little garden patch, and i always give plants to the neighbors, they always say yes to free plants

[@deborahshields729]

I agree with others that this was one of the best presentations on do's and don'ts for establishing and maintaining a native plant yard. Thank you so much! I'm going to keep the link for this video to come back to time and time again

[@innerstrg1]

One of the most practical suggestions to ensure success with Native Plants. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

[@tanyabrooks5548]

This was one of the most insightful and practical native planting presentations I've seen. I was on the verge of making many of these mistakes. Even the professionals who are not deeply educated about natives had me going in the wrong direction. Where can I get a good native plant design that bears all of this in mind?

[@lwjenson]

I'm on the other side of the country but this was a super helpful presentation as I think about designing one of my side yards as a native habitat.

[@wildflowerwoods]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@jackjtang]

Oops, just started a major yard renovation and already made all the mistakes! Good info, wish I had come across this earlier...

[@bethyoung3654]

Very helpful presentation and great photos. Thank you!

[@rockettedog]

Very helpful as I’m in the prepping my area this week. Thank you.

[@annharlan8926]

My groundcover (NC) is uva ursi (bearberries) in my permaculture yard. I can use it for tea that is good for my kidneys. Great presentation - Thanks.

[@stevemiller7949]

Fantastic, thank you!!!🙂🙂🙂

[@cecelianaugustaga]

Thank you for the information!

[@Trav_Can]

21:11

[@Maczust63]

Good presentation. Your plants are probably just getting a lot of nitrogen and growing vigorously because of the catalpa tree being a Legume. The mulch would probably be like a 1/1/1 fert and slow. Mulch holds moisture and the microbes probably thrived and helped nitrogen fixation of your catalpa. Just a guess.

[@11234231423423]

Oh man I feel your pain with tilling. Dealing with the same issue.

[@philippwickey9484]

Excellent seminar, I wrote down many notes! Too bad you were rushed at the end. FYI at

[@jdy1054]

Rudbeckia reseeds vociferously here. Plant one and in 3 years you will have a yard full. (SWOhio). Funny how they behave differently in different areas.

[@coolnatkat]

Excellent! I wish you had been given 2 hours to speak!