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Registration is Open for the 5th Annual
Midwest Native Plant Conference
July 26, 27 & 28, 2013
Saturday conference Keynote speaker, Professor Doug Tallamy, will inspire you about "Your Role in Building Biological Corridors: Networks for Life" . On Friday evening, back by popular demand, we will have brother/sister team Wayne Richards and Judy Burris give a lively presentation on "Wild for Weeds and Critters - the Vital Role of our Native Flora".
Saturday morning, David Fitzsimmons, photographer and author of "Animals of Ohio's Ponds and Vernal Pools", will present a talk about the importance of vernal pools to wildlife. Friday afternoon keynote speakers are Jim McCormac, who will give a photography workshop on "Shooting Landscapes to Liliies" while Cheryl Harner will enlighten us about "Lawns and Lawn Alternatives". Jim Davidson. Ohio Lepidopterist Society, will lead a "Wings of Wonder" field trip to find and help us ID butterflies and dragonflies on the wing.
We will offer informative workshops and breakout sessions, as well as morning and evening field trips on Friday and Saturday. Sunday offers expert led field trips to some interesting natural areas rich in native plants and diversity.
This year, our conference plant is Northern Spicebush. And, for the first time, we will be conducting a "bioblitz" during the conference to list the various species we encounter on our bird and butterfly walks, insects and moth evening hikes. We will have some real experts in our company to guide us and help us find those rare and/or elusives species during the weekend. This will be a fun and educational endeaver! See a sample of the weekend in the Conference Agenda!
We will be at the Bergamo Conference Center located on the beautiful grounds of the 300 acre Mount Saint John Preserve in Dayton, Ohio. We are grateful to the staff of the Marianist Environmental Center (MEEC) who assist us in putting this conference together each year! Our conference vendors will be open to the public Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm with native plants, artwork, books and other items that will connect you to nature.
In 2013, conference proceeds will benefit the following organizations: The Nature Conservancy's Ohio Sunshine Corridor Project, Marianist Environmental Education Center, Cedar Bog Association, ONAPA - Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association, and Beavercreek Wetlands.
We hope to see you there!
Highlights of the 2012 Conference
We want to give a big THANK YOU to all attendees, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and speakers/field trip leaders in helping make the 2012 4th Annual Midwest Native Plant Conference a huge success and enjoyable weekend!
The conference filled up a couple weeks prior so we had a great crowd for the event. The weekend was chock-full of talented and knowledgeable speakers. Ian Adams blew us away with beautiful photography in his Dragonfly/Damselfly talk. Marielle Anzelone provided an inspiring talk discussing some of the challenges she faces as a native plant advocate in the “concrete jungle” of New York City. And to end the speaking sessions Saturday evening, David Wagner, also a talented photographer, opened our eyes to the world of caterpillars.
On Saturday, breakout session speakers covered a wide array of topics related to native plants, while participants also enjoyed browsing the vendors throughout the day. Our silent auction was a success, allowing us to donate additional funding to three organizations that are making great contributions toward conservation efforts. And to top the conference off, we couldn’t have had better weather for the Sunday field trips to various natural areas in southwest Ohio. A huge THANK YOU to participants who completed evaluation forms. Your feedback is so important in guiding our planning efforts each year.
2012 Conference vendors: Ann Geise, BLACK KAT POTTERY, Naturescapes Jewelry, Karen Sandorf, Glen Helen Nature Shop, Nina Harfmann, Bob Henn, Ohio University Press, ODNR Division of Wildlife, USDA/APHIS, Brukner Nature Center, Five Rivers Metro Parks, Beavercreek Wetlands, Lloyd Library, Edith Wadkins.
If you are interested in being a conference vendor or a sponsor, send an email to:mwnpsconference@gmail.com. Our mission is"Connecting People with Nature".
The Midwest Native Plant Society is a non-profit organization of amateur and professional naturalists, botanists, teachers, researchers, gardeners, birders, and the list goes on of those who have a deep appreciation for our native flora and fauna. Our mission is to promote awareness of the importance of native plants and the wildlife that depend on them, within biologically diverse ecosystems and in our own home landscapes.
Our goals include:
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Connecting people with nature.
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Conserving native habitats and assisting organizations that promote and protect them.
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Developing educational programs that help to understand the beauty, diversity and
versatility of our native plants, and encouraging the use of native plants in public and
private landscaping.
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Promoting native plants, plant communities and healthy ecosystems as essential to the
well-being of all living things.
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Promoting the commercial availability of local native plant materials.
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Experiencing native plants throughout the Midwest, in natural environments and
created landscapes.
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Offering CEU's for APLD, Master Gardener's and Ohio Certified Naturalists.
In support of our mission, we host an annual conference, "The Midwest Native Plant Conference" and donate funds to conservation projects and organizations that are working to preserve native plant communities.
Thank you for visiting!
2013 Conference Plant
Northern Spicebush
Coming soon!
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2012 Conference Plant
Royal Catchfly
Silene regia
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2011 Conference Plant
Queen of the Prairie
Filipendula rubra
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2010 Conference Plant
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium 
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2009 Conference Plant/Logo
Ohio Goldenrod
Oligoneuron Ohioense
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Prints Available
from the
Artist, Ann Geise |
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Trillium Level Sponsor 
