Upcoming Episodes:

October 17th – Native Plants at Noon: On the Road to Maple Woods Natural Area. Take a second look at Gladstone’s mature maple/oak forest to see how it’s progressed since our visit in the spring. MDC Community Forester, Chuck Conner, discusses forest ecology and the changes seen in this old growth forest. 

November 21st – Native Plants at Noon: At the Discovery Center. Shift your perspective of garden aesthetics with Cydney Ross, outdoor education manager with Deep Roots KC. This program features a live look at native gardens and how to maintain them for winter beauty. In this episode they discuss the aesthetics and wildlife benefits of native gardens as we transition to winter.  

December 19th – Native Plants at Noon: At the Discovery Center. Winter may seem sleepy, but native shrubs and trees provide crucial habitat and food sources for local songbirds. Guided by Cydney Ross, outdoor education manager with Deep Roots KC, this program features a live look at native plants that support wildlife year-round.

Previous Episodes 2024:

January 18th – Native Plants at Noon: At the Discovery Center. Subtle colors and bold textures stand out in the landscape this time of year. Take a virtual tour of the gardens at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Guided by Cydney Ross, outdoor program manager with Deep Roots KC, this program features the beauty and benefits of native gardens in winter as well as Winter Sowing Seed tips.  

February 15th – Native Plants at Noon: At the Discovery Center. Take in the winter beauty at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Guided by Cydney Ross, outdoor program manager with Deep Roots KC, this program features a calming stroll among plants of winter interest. 

March 21st – Native Plants at Noon: At the Discovery Center. Spring is stirring across the Midwest. Take a virtual tour of the native gardens at MDC’s Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Guided by native landscape specialist Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, outdoor program manager with Deep Roots KC, this program features a live look at native sedges, grasses, and rushes. Learn how to add these native plants to your garden!

April 18th – Native Plants at Noon: On the Road to Maple Woods Natural Area. This mature maple/oak forest is recognized by the National Park Service as a significant Natural Area in Gladstone, Missouri. Learn with MDC experts why it is a popular spring destination to view migrant songbirds and wildflower displays. 

May 16 – On the Road: Paintbrush Prairie & Forever Prairie Join natural history biologists, Krista Noel and Lisa San Diego from Missouri Department of Conservation as we take a closer look at early summer species seen at Paintbrush Prairie and Friendly Prairie Conservation Area near Cole Camp, Missouri.

June 20th – Native Plants at Noon: Primrose Prairie At the Discovery Center. Early summer blooms fill our landscape and support wildlife. Guided by Cydney Ross of Deep Roots KC and Madison Twite of MDC, this program features a live look at Primrose Prairie at the Discovery Center in its third growing season. Learn design considerations and stewardship practices of this prairie-inspired native garden.

July 18th – Native Plants at Noon: On the Road to Platte Ridge Park. Join Cassandra Messer Private Land Conservationist of MDC, for an insightful look between the life seen in a native landscape versus what we lose in a traditional turf lawn.  

August 15th – Native Plants at Noon: On the Road to James A Reed. Join fisheries biologist, Caleb Pemberton from Missouri Department of Conservation as we learn more about aquatic plants native to Missouri. This episode will emphasize backyard pond species and homeowner management. 

September 19th – Native Plants at Noon: KC Keystone Species at the Discovery Center. Native flora and fauna have developed intricate relationships over millennia. Native plants provide food, shelter, and places to rear young for our native fauna. Keystone plant species support most caterpillar species and specialist native bee species. They are the “Most Valuable Players” in our natural communities. Without regional keystone plants, wildlife would decline or cease to exist.

Guided by Cydney Ross, outdoor education manager with Deep Roots KC, this program features a live look at Kansas City-specific keystone species to add to your native habitat gardens.