The Possibilities of Amazing Native Plants

April 2, 2022April 4, 2022 Mike Nowak difference between native plants and nativars, gardening, hydrangeas and pollinators, Kelsay Shaw, native plants, Peggy Malecki, Possibility Place Nursery, reforestation problems, The Mike Nowak Show, the value of oak trees, Tristan Shaw

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(April 3, 2022) “Tidy thoughts are for losers.” That was Kelsay Shaw’s message to us in 2019. I bet that hasn’t changed. Of course, as I wrote at the time, he was referring to gardening. He can’t speak for your housekeeping. Today, we welcome him back to the show along with his brother Tristan. Together, they will talk to us about the possibilities of amazing native plants.

Amazing native plants - Quercus alba — Mature white oak (Quercus alba)

Kelsay and Tristan know a lot about natives. That’s because they’ve grown up working at Possibility Place Nursery in Monee, Illinois. If they also seem to have their fair share of opinions about natives, that might be because of their dad, Connor Shaw. And I mean that in a good way. The point is, I’m looking forward to an entertaining conversation today.

By the way, Possibility Place grows native trees, shrubs and perennials that are indigenous to northeast Illinois. Ninety percent of their plants’ seed is collected in Northern Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. And the company is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2023.

We’ll be talking about the good, the bad and the ugly of growing amazing native plants. Some of the subjects that might come up:

Nativars v. native plants
What Kelsay calls “The Big Switch,” when people convert a “traditional” landscape to a native version
The continuing issue of what to do with plastic pots
Why some re-forestation programs are causing biodiversity problems. So, will it work for a “super forest”?
And why “trees are a renewable resource” can be a lie
Oak tree myths
“Looking for Vanessa” (we’ll explain that one)
Is your “Annabelle” Hydrangea attracting pollinators? Probably not

Since we’re on the subject of hydrangeas and pollinators, here’s a blog post that Kelsay wrote several years back about that very subject. In short, they know their stuff. Tune in.

The Green Dispatch

Meanwhile, when we’re not talking about amazing native plants, we’re back with another installment of The Green Dispatch. If we don’t get to all of these stories during the show, read them yourself.

First Plant Health Care Report of 2022 – The Morton Arboretum

Spring Garden Cleanup (how to do it right) – Illinois Extension

A couple of compost collecting events:

Garfield Park Conservatory
Sat April 16, 10 am – 2 pm
300 N Central Park Ave, South Parking Lot, Chicago

Plant Chicago
Saturday April 16, 11 am – 3 pm
4459 S Marshfield, Chicago

City Announces Plan To Add 48 Miles Of Bike And Pedestrian Trails, Give Away 5,000 Bikes To Residents – Block Club Chicago

Bold Idea to Stall the Climate Crisis—by Building Better Trees – Wired

Burning Up: The Controversial Biofuel Threatening BC’s Last Inland Rainforests – The Walrus

Higher than average wildfire activity expected in Southern Plains and Southwest, April through June – Wildfire Today

Animals are losing their camouflage under modern street lights – Earth.com