Hear from two dynamic, regional speakers on native plants! Shannon Currey, Education and Outreach for Izel Native Plants, will speak about native perennials for shady situations. Preston Montague, Landscape Architect and Instructor at NC A&T University will talk about planting native perennials in North Carolina's urban environments. He is an artist working to strengthen relationships between people and the natural world.

Native Perennials for Shady Situations - Shannon Currey, Education and Outreach for Izel Native Plants
Shady spaces in the landscape often get the mulch treatment or are planted with problematic spreaders like liriope or English ivy. Fortunately, there are a variety of native, herbaceous perennials that offer a powerful combination of visual appeal and ecological function. While few plants grow in the dense shade underneath evergreens, shade-tolerant species have developed strategies that allow them to do well in less than full-sun conditions. This session addresses the nature of shade and some of the physiological adaptations that shade-tolerant plants employ. Focusing on regional native species and their cultivars, we’ll take a close look at a selection of perennials, grasses, and sedges to understand why they’re particularly helpful.

Under the Radar: Planting Perennials in North Carolina's Urban Environments - Preston Montague, Landscape Architect and Instructor at NC A&T University
Join Preston Montague for a conversation about his experience working with herbaceous plantings in his practice, and obstacles and opportunities facing advocates fighting for biodiversity in our cities and developments. Herbaceous plants have tremendous potential to provide for a wide range of ecosystem services, not least of which is boosting biodiversity in our most urban environments, or providing the most basic of shelter for wildlife in new developments in the area. These plants can be orderly, safe, and beautiful year round, even in tough urban environments.