Designing Native Plant Gardens: Minimizing the Error in 'Trial and Error' - Mike Weis

Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones
Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones
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Published 2023-02-24
Whether you are wondering how to get started with native plant gardening or have years of experience, this program is sure to have something for everyone. Experienced native plant gardener and designer Mike Weis will take us through the steps in the first garden he ever installed, starting in 2005. He will present a slideshow of images of this garden through the years to illustrate how some decisions/methods that were used worked well while others did not (hence the title).

Mike Weis is the owner of the Kalamazoo-based landscape company, Dropseed! Native Gardens and Ecological Restoration. He has been gardening with native plants since 2005. Weis also works seasonally for Hidden Savanna Native Plant Nursery and volunteers as an ecological steward for Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and Stewards of Kleinstuck, where he serves as a board member. Weis is also an accomplished percussionist, composer and conceptual photographer.
All Comments (20)
  • @tylernardone3788
    One of the most useful native plant talks i've seen. Full of examples and actionable insights. Will be using this as reference for sure, thank you!!
  • @lisamichele4152
    This was the best native plant presentation I've listened to. Since I'm still in the planning stages, this has definitely changed my selection of plants. Thank you.
  • @LongislandnativeSanctuary
    Definitely great point about making it look good for the neighbors. also entices the neighbors to start their own little garden patch, and i always give plants to the neighbors, they always say yes to free plants
  • @deborahshields729
    I agree with others that this was one of the best presentations on do's and don'ts for establishing and maintaining a native plant yard. Thank you so much! I'm going to keep the link for this video to come back to time and time again
  • @lwjenson
    I'm on the other side of the country but this was a super helpful presentation as I think about designing one of my side yards as a native habitat.
  • @jackjtang
    Oops, just started a major yard renovation and already made all the mistakes! Good info, wish I had come across this earlier...
  • @innerstrg1
    One of the most practical suggestions to ensure success with Native Plants. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences!
  • @bethyoung3654
    Very helpful presentation and great photos. Thank you!
  • @rockettedog
    Very helpful as I’m in the prepping my area this week. Thank you.
  • @annharlan8926
    My groundcover (NC) is uva ursi (bearberries) in my permaculture yard. I can use it for tea that is good for my kidneys. Great presentation - Thanks.
  • @Maczust63
    Good presentation. Your plants are probably just getting a lot of nitrogen and growing vigorously because of the catalpa tree being a Legume. The mulch would probably be like a 1/1/1 fert and slow. Mulch holds moisture and the microbes probably thrived and helped nitrogen fixation of your catalpa. Just a guess.
  • @11234231423423
    Oh man I feel your pain with tilling. Dealing with the same issue.
  • @philippwickey9484
    Excellent seminar, I wrote down many notes! Too bad you were rushed at the end. FYI at 55:03 you have a layout overview an I noticed you have Foxglove in the yard. Digitalis/Foxglove is not native to the US.
  • @coolnatkat
    Excellent! I wish you had been given 2 hours to speak!
  • @jdy1054
    Rudbeckia reseeds vociferously here. Plant one and in 3 years you will have a yard full. (SWOhio). Funny how they behave differently in different areas.