I just had the great pleasure of attending this four day gathering of about 400 self-described native plant and pollinator garden nerds at Western Carolina University. This conference was originally founded in 1984 by the TVA and two of my field trip guides, Larry Mellichamp and Dan Pittillo, were instrumental in leading this movement of significant economic and ecological impact. The combination of field trips, workshops, lectures and social networking opportunities have become the model for similar native plant gatherings around the country.
It began with a rare rain-free field trip led by Larry Mellichamp to the Highlands Botanical Garden and Biological Station. It’s impossible to adequately describe this wonderland which is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. Precipitation is higher than at any other site in eastern North America, averaging 80-100 inches annually, and the mild summer temperatures are due to its elevation of 4117′. I learned new plants and celebrated “old friends.”
The afternoon was spent in two private gardens lovingly tended by Dollie Swanson and Glenda Zahner.
I thoroughly enjoyed the next full day of lectures and conversations with so many folks. The vendors brought books and rare plants for sale. Of course I came home with new books for my library, thanks to Chris Wilcox, owner of City Lights Bookstore. But I also needed a break from all this plant world so I visited the Bardo Fine Art Museum on the WCU campus. I found glass art there that is all about nature.
The following morning was spent with Dan Pittillo at the Pittillo Family Nature Preserve, in partnership with the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust. It is open to the public with some parking in this gorgeous mountain cove.
While this conference was all about the many native plants that support pollinators, I guess the plant that most captures the public’s interest in supporting the monarch butterflies is the milkweed. But there are so many plants in our biodiverse habitat here in western NC that are often the single host for so many of our pollinators. In fact I learned that my trillium cuneatum, commonly called Sweet Betsy, is the host for yellow jacket pollination. I will be more kind to those beasts now that I know. For those of you motivated to add more native plants in your garden, here is a very handy website that provides information by zip code. Couldn’t be easier!
We all need to learn more and accept the fact that if your garden isn’t getting eaten, it’s not doing its job. And I am happy to have met Kim Bailey of Milkweed Meadows Farm in Hendersonville, NC. If her enthusiasm about taking care of this planet doesn’t infect you, no-one could. And then I urge you to attend next year’s symposium. The knowledge and networking is priceless!
