Increasingly, gardeners, farmers, community planners, and nature enthusiasts in the lower Midwest are choosing native plants. As this movement attracts enthusiasm, however, it also draws speculation. What is the truth about native plants… and what is misinformation? Join panelists Sajo Abdallah, Eric Eaton, Nina Fogel, and Scott Woodbury as they tackle live questions and set the record straight on many common native gardening misconceptions. Topics to be explored include native landscape design styles and maintenance, challenging assumptions around pollinators, small mammals, and insects, illuminating the differences among natives, nativars, and cultivars, tips on beneficial vs nuisance insect identification, and more. Experts featured on the panel include:
–Sajo Abdallah, Private Land Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and CoMo Wild Yards Program
–Eric R. Eaton, entomologist, writer, speaker, and lauded “Internet Bug Guy”
–Nina Fogel, Ph.D., Natural Heritage Database Specialist with MDC
–Scott Woodbury, designer, horticulturist, writer, speaker, and owner of Cacalia Design and Wilding
This webinar was recorded live on August 13, 2025.
