Above: Pick up more native plants at the upcoming, 3-day, Pop-up Pollinator Plant Sale. Photo by Maddie Ball
By Chris Cardwell, Urban Conservation Program Manager
It’s time to turn the corner on spring and crank up the blooms for June, as the ephemerals in our gardens go to seed and the summer showstoppers begin to take center stage. In that spirit, opportunities with Deep Roots programs are abundant this month, with some regularly scheduled engagements and one brand new happening that are guaranteed to keep you excited to grow your home habitats!
Perhaps the most exciting June event with Deep Roots is our first ever Pop-Up Pollinator Plant Sale, a 3-day extravaganza that’s being held at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, June 4th-6th. Twenty-five diverse native species are available for pre-ordering through May 28th, with something for nearly every microclimate and garden style. The debut of our pop-up sale will give native plant gardeners another opportunity to add diversity and expand their urban microhabitats before the heat of summer puts our planting plans on hold until fall. Attend the pop-up event on Friday, June 5th for an additional opportunity to purchase a pot and potting soil for a native plant container garden. Order today, as supplies are limited!
Exploring the demonstration garden during Native Landscape Chat. Photo by Maddie Ball.
For those of us seeking hands-on learning about native landscapes, our regular programs with the Missouri Department of Conservation are excellent opportunities in this first week of June. So, while you’re picking up your latest batch of native plants on June 5th, don’t forget your binoculars, because Deep Roots and Burroughs Audubon will be hosting our monthly guided naturalist walk; this time, a bird-focused edition of our Native Landscape Chat. Take a leisurely stroll around the Discovery Center’s 8-acre campus, exploring the rich natural areas and observing the dozens of species of songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl who rely on those dynamic native ecosystems to thrive in the heart of our urban expanse. Space is limited for these guided walks, so sign up today for your curated stroll through Kansas City’s premier native landscape.
Lined Snake (Tropidoclonion lineatum) found during Discover Native Gardening. Photo by Cydney Ross.
Maybe you’re in need of some dirt therapy? Join Deep Roots’ staff experts in the demonstration garden for Discover Native Gardening on June 2nd, where people of all experience levels and backgrounds come together to steward the ever-inspiring Discovery Center landscapes. These are excellent gatherings, bringing you the personal experience of working in a dynamic plant community in all seasons, gaining real understanding of native landscape maintenance while sharing fellowship, tips, and tricks with our experts and seasoned volunteers. There’s no better way to sharpen your native plant I.D. skills, and it’s never a dull time – our Discover Native Gardening team even got to mingle with an elusive little Lined Snake this month, an uncommon reptilian encounter that may only occur in a healthy native ecosystem! Sign up to volunteer here.
Finally, get up close and personal with the native gardening practices of your fellow KC residents at June 6th’s Habitat Garden Tour. Three Midtown residents will welcome registrants into their home landscapes, where Deep Roots supporters get to inspire one another directly! Seeing what other enthusiasts are able to bring to life in their own microhabitats and hearing their stories from inspiration to realization is truly contagious. The open house format of our morning tours makes it a breeze to gather gardening ideas and then drop by our Pollinator Pop-Up Plant Sale to purchase your next round of plants.
It’s easy to engage with Deep Roots this month, and we hope to see you at one or all of our early June events. All of this is made possible through the work of our dedicated volunteer corps, so get involved and sign up to volunteer with Deep Roots today!
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