Photo credit: Heather Holm Plan It Native 2024 is thrilled to have Heather Holm join us in person for the first time since 2019. Heather is a noted author and celebrated expert on native bees and other pollinators. She is an advocate for the world of pollination that bridges ecology, horticulture, and design. Heather knows how to think like a bee, and her passion is contagious! In fact, she refers to bumblebees as “the teddy bears of the native bee world.”  And for those of you who like to pet “bumble butts,” we’re sure you couldn’t agree more! Her session, Creating and Managing Landscap ..read more

Written by Cydney Ross, Outdoor Education Manager As sunlight shifts and temps drop, trees prepare for winter by slowing down their metabolism to conserve energy. Leaves shed to preserve water for the cold months ahead. Conventional lawnscaping practices suggest you rake and bag those leaves or chop them up into mulch. This leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Trees don’t lose their leaves for nothing. Besides conserving resources, decomposed leaves put nutrients back in the soil and feed microorganisms. This supports the health of the tree that dropped ..read more

Written by Chris Cardwell This time of year can be somewhat of a challenge for native plant enthusiasts. ,Blooms slowly disappear and the tree foliage falls, turning from golden hues into overwintering cover for insects. Many plantspeople turn their attention to winter interests, and the collection and preparation of native seed for propagation and dispersal is a vital one – but what are the best practices and guiding principles for  community should adhere? Deep Roots asked three pressing questions of three of the region’s leading experts for their insights into how we can all ensure the ..read more

Written by Stacia Stelk Do you love snuggling down with a good book? Do you spend cold winter days dreaming about your native plant gardens? Deep Roots has some book recommendations for you! The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants, Neil Diboll and Hillary Cox Neil is a consulting ecologist for Prairie Nursery in Westfield Wisconsin. Considered a pioneer in the native plant industry, he is recognized internationally as an expert in native plant ecology. Neil’s new book, with co-author Hillary Cox, is a wide-ranging and definitive reference for starting and maintaining prairie and meadow gardens ..read more

Above left: Rose Verbena, photo credit MDC Above right: White Snakeroot, photo credit Chris Cardwell Written by Chris Cardwell They’ve patiently waited all season while their showy summer counterparts took center stage. But as the daylight shortens, temperatures dip, and we humans don our flannels and break out the sweaters, fall blooming native plants are taking this time to finally shine. I find myself marveling at color combinations that are seldom seen in the earlier parts of the growing season, the most delicate purples and pale lavenders of asters seem to wash perfectly into the blaze o ..read more

Written by Cydney Ross, Outdoor Education Manager By the end of fall trees have dropped their leaves while flowers and grasses take on their autumn hues. One plant that stands out among the rest is the non-native Shrub honeysuckle a.k.a Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). Long after our native perennials have begun their winter dormancy, this plant holds on to it leaves. This gives it an extended growing season and competitive edge for the following year. You may also notice the bright red fruits on this understory shrub. Though attractive to birds, these berries are not all they’re cut out ..read more

Photo credit: Missouri Trailblazing By Cydney Ross, Outdoor Education Manager Cooler temps are rolling in and we’re gearing up for outdoor fun! Fall is a great time to add native plants to your garden before they go dormant. It’s also the season to get outside and enjoy our natural areas. Hop on the bus and join me for two special field trips where we’ll explore Missouri’s native flora and fauna. Poosey Conservation AreaSaturday, September 30th Register here Join us for an adventure at the Poosey Conservation Area in Chillicothe, Missouri! At this time of year, the last of the wildflowers are ..read more

Photo credits: Left – Heather Holm (Ceratina); Right – Cydney Ross (Coneflowers in winter) By Chris Cardwell, Deep Roots’ Program Manager How do I prepare my native plants for the winter? I have a Swamp Milkweed which is very well established. I also have Tickweed (coreopsis), Purple Coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susan Coneflowers. I read online that I should cut the Swamp Milkweed back to six inches with a pair of sterilized pruners and leave it that way for the winter. That seems to me to be pretty unprotected. I also wasn’t sure if I just cut back the Coneflowers and Tickweed. Thanks, A ..read more

Deep Roots is Hiring! Deep Roots is growing! Our new Program Manager will be an integral part of the Plan It Native conference and will design and build a new garden tour program for the 2024 growing season. We are looking for a team player that is passionate about native plants and nature. Incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2016 as the Kansas City Native Plant Initiative, Deep Roots KC is an environmental organization focused on native plants. Our mission is to encourage the appreciation, conservation, and use of native plants in the heartland through educating, collaborating, and facili ..read more

Join Deep Roots this September for two informative and collaborative field trips where we will highlight large-scale restoration and management practices at two different public sites, emphasizing woodland and grassland management. Ernie Miller Park: September 13, 2023. 9:00am – 11:30am909 North, K-7, Olathe, KS 66061 Join Matt Garrett, Natural Resource Manager at Johnson County Parks and Recreation District, on this woodland specific tour of bush honeysuckle removal efforts.  JCPRD staff, contractors, and volunteers have removed 116 acres of bush honeysuckle and have begun a 10 ..read more