By Susan Harkins
The native plant movement is alive and well throughout Kentucky, so much so that finding native plants can be difficult. Fortunately for those in the Louisville area, Beargrass Thunder sells native plants and more.
Beargrass Thunder evolved from a YouTube channel for hobby gardening and urban placemaking in Louisville. They joined the Kentucky Proud family as a certified plant nursery and seed seller in 2021. Besides selling plants and custom seed mixes, they can install native yardens at your property. According to owner Jody Dahmer, a yarden is a native food, meadow, or pollinator planting.
Jody answered both an opportunity and a need when he started Beargrass Thunder. Neighbors in their Louisville community were fined for growing heirloom vegetables and flowers. He started Beargrass Thunder as a way to challenge Louisville’s restrictive, 90-year-old weed ordinance that outlawed plants taller than 10 inches.
It took three years, but the effort was successful. Louisville repealed the outdated ordinance in March 2022. The Louisville area is seeing a massive trend towards native plants with help from Beargrass Thunder and Native Plant Alliance, which steers suburbs and HOAs toward native plant landscaping in the greater Louisville area.
Jody said, “It has given us an opportunity to educate as well as influence the many ways governments maintain properties — switching from clearcutting and mowing to more fuel- and labor-efficient wildflower meadows and creek restorations. Once you know you have other options than mowed grass, it is very easy to change budgets! We have even had an HOA change their rules to allow gardens and native plants!”
In addition to changing minds and ordinances, Beargrass Thunder collects and shares localized varieties of wildflowers, vegetables, and fruit trees, which they share with members of the community as part of the Louisville Seed Bank. The seed bank is hosted by Louisville Tool Library on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1227 Logan Street in the Shelby Park neighborhood.
You can find Beargrass Thunder at many Bernheim Arboretum events, neighborhood events, and other local businesses in the area. To make an appointment to purchase plants or seeds, or consult, contact Jody at jody@beargrassthunder.com. To keep up with their public events, follow Beargrass Thunder on your favorite social media platform: