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.
Plant native wildflowers.
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 Louisville repealed the outdated ordinance in March 2022.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:
Jonathan Omar Cole Kubesch1,2, Lauryn Jansen1, Dillon P. Golding1,3,4, Makayla Bryant1, Frank Reith1,2, and Derek Hilfiker1,2
Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Blacksburg, VA
Country Home Farms; Pembroke, VA
Virginia Tech Urban Horticulture Center; Blacksburg, VA
Hoot Owl Hollow Farm, Woodlawn, VA
Today, most Upper South pastureland consists of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Tall fescue grasslands suit cattle production needs for much of the year with few inputs and tolerate mismanagement more effectively than many other forage species (Kubesch et al., 2022a). However, tall fescue (TF) is limited in that the warm summer months are suboptimal for the cool-season grass, and the toxic endophyte in most tall fescue can lead to undesirable cattle effects. Cattle might have reduced performance in terms or gain, milk production, or reproduction, as well as elevated heat stress.
Native warm-season grasses (NWSGs) are warm-season grasses suited to producing forage during the heat of summer, when TF is not under optimal conditions for growth, which peaks in spring and fall. Examples of these species include big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans). Additionally, NWSGs can improve environmental outcomes over TF through wildlife benefits as well as improved drought resilience (Keyser et al., 2019; Keyser, 2021). Our position on the utilization of NWSGs in the Upper South for grazing is that NWSGs can complement existing TF grazing systems where management and infrastructure are available to transition between spatially separated TF and NWSG stands.
Spatially explicit TF and NWSG stands are requisite in order for the use of these respective species to be sustainable over a production lifecycle. Cool-season grasses outcompete warm-season grasses during the spring and fall, and the inverse occurs in the summer (Keyser, 2021). Portions of acreage for the TF and NWSG components of a grazing system have been used rather than a composition basis.
NWSG grass stands have been suggested to make up between 10-30% of Upper South farm acreage in a recent synthesis (Keyser, 2021). Given recent experimental work where heifers had the ability to select tall fescue or NWSG portions of a paddock over most of a grazing season, the 30% of acreage in NWSG seems more reasonable than the 10% value. However, given that converting from one forage to another forage results in 1+ year of lost forage production (Keyser, 2021), a piecemeal transition strategy like that suggested for organic forage production might be more practical (Kubesch et al., 2022b).
30% of farm acreage might be the long-term goal, however, that goal can be accommodated through converting smaller tracts over time. In a series of farm case studies, producers converted approximately 5-10% of their acreage to NWSG stands as trials for potential expansion (Virginia Cooperative Extension [Case studies]). Seeing as these conversions are already at smaller scales than what may be the long-term target, a piecemeal approach seems to be the most logical process. Conversions of select paddocks within grazing management units might also constrain the conversion process. Any forage establishment carries the risk of failure, and as such, establishing NWSGs during the conversion process can create additional risks (Kubesch et al., 2022b). In addition to the stand failing to result in enough viable plants for forage production, establishing stands can risk soil erosion, weed encroachment, nutrient leaching, water quality decline, and minor habitat loss for insects. The preference for perennial sods is in part to mitigate these environmental constraints, maintain forage production with minimal inputs, and to reduce establishment failure risk (Keyser, 2021; Case Studies; Kubesch et al., 2022b).
Date of trip: July 29, 2023 Start time: 9AM CDT Location: Ballard WMW, Ballard Co., KY Difficulty of hike: Easy. We will car pool/caravan on the gravel roads in the WMA, getting out to walk short distances on flat terrain. Conditions will be hot and humid.
Join KNPS President, Jeff Nelson, as as we explore the native plant ecosystems in the wetlands and river bottoms of the Ballard WMA in Ballard Co.
Ballard Wildlife Management Area is 8,000 acres located in the Ohio River bottomlands ecoregion in far western Kentucky. The WMA is mostly wetland with 39% of the acreage in wetland, 28% forest, 27% open land, and 6% open water. Much of the wetland is comprised of rare, cypress-tupelo swamps and sloughs which many Kentuckians have not had the opportunity to experience. The Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves lists cypress-tupelo swamp as a state endangered ecosystem.
We will drive as a caravan around the WMA, making several stops where we will get out and observe the botany of Ballard’s diverse ecosystems. We will carpool as much as possible to reduce the number of cars in the caravan, but anyone who prefers to drive themselves is perfectly welcome to do so.
Carolina spiderlily (Hymenocallis occidentalis)
We should see several uncommon, wetland plant species. We hope to find Carolina spiderlily (Hymenocallis occidentalis) in flower.
Although we will not be hiking any distance, we will be taking walks of less than 1/2 mile at a couple of stops, all on the road or trails. We will walk into areas off the road to get a better view many of the plants. There is likely to be some muddy spots where we will be walking, so be prepared.
There are no bathroom facilities or water available at the WMA. It will be hot and humid. If conditions are such that the heat index will be over 100, we will cancel the trip. We will email you on Friday the 28th if the trip is canceled.
This should be a great field trip with many native species in flower, some that are rare or uncommon in KY. If you have any questions, just email us at KYPlants@knps.org. Register for this field trip using the form below.
Date of trip: July 29, 2023 Start time: 10AM EDT Location: Fleming WMA, Fleming Co., KY Difficulty of hike: Difficult, approximately 2 miles and 2 hours. Given the heat and terrain this could be a challenging hike.
Explore a part of Kentucky’s wilderness with KNPS!
Join us at Fleming Wildlife Management Area on July 29th at 10AM for a two-hour hike. The WMA has an oak-hickory forest mixed with flatwoods and small wetland openings, which means we might spot orchids and wetland plants.
Alan Abbott, hike leader.
We’ll meet in the main parking lot shortly before 10AM. Look for the hide leader, Alan Abbott. The hike begins at 10AM. It’s two miles and should last two to three hours.
Consider bringing bug spray, and we suggest wearing tall boots. Given the heat and terrain this could be a challenging hike.
This is a joint event between KNPS and the Kentucky chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (KYBHA), another group focused on conserving and exploring Kentucky’s natural landscape. Registration for this hike is required. Members and friends of KNPS can use the form at the bottom of this article to register. Members and friends of of KYBHA can RSVP on their Event page, KYBHA Plant ID Walk.
All WMAs are owned and maintained by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources and open most of the year to the public. In a coming issue, you’ll learn more about these WMAs and how you can visit to enjoy Kentucky’s flora and fauna.
Register for this field trip
KNPS members and friends can register for this hike using the form below. Because this is a joint field trip, we are limiting signups to 5 people.
We have exciting news — KNPS is partnering with horticultural education groups across the state to provide funds and educational support for pollinator gardens. 2023 is a pilot year so we can find partners throughout the state and work out the kinks.
We’re partnering with organizations with an education mission because the success rate of grant gardens is small. With a two-year educational support commitment from our educational partners, we hope to improve the success rate.
The partnership includes three parties:
The Kentucky Native Plant Society as grantor will provide funds for the purchase of native plants and seeds.
The grantee will be the owner or caretaker of the garden. The site should have education as part of its mission and offer public access, within reason.
An educational partner will provide education and continued support for at least two years.
Currently, each grant is $500. KNPS and educational partners can assist with purchasing plants. The grantee will use their volunteers to prepare, plant, and maintain the garden.
The five pilot sites
Currently, we have five pilot sites in the works. Two are in Frankfort and three are at or near Eastern Kentucky University.
Gerrard County High School
Kelly Watson, Ph.D. and the associate director of Eastern Kentucky University’s Division of Natural Areas supplied the education component for this new pollinator garden on school grounds. The KNPS grant of $500 was used to purchase native plants from Ironweed Native Plant Nursery in Waddy.
On May 17th, Kelly worked with two shifts of students: One was an Agriculture/Horticulture class (taught by Natasha Parsons), and a second group of students is part of GearUp, working with Amy Whitt. Kelly will continue to support these groups in maintaining the garden to secure its success.
Students planting the outside classroom. Students planting the outside classroom.
Science for Sustainable Living Initiative
Kelly Watson serves as the educational partner for this pollinator garden outside the EKU science building and the plants were purchased from Ironweed Native Plant Nursery. EKU has two gardens here that are used as outdoor classrooms and during the campus pollinator workshops, which occur twice a year.
The gardens were established two years ago through a grant from Novelis, using seeds from Roundstone Native Seed Company. The groups caring for these gardens have battled invasives since then. By adding mature plugs, the group hopes to tilt the tables a bit more in favor of the natives.
In May, a group of group of summer student interns (they get paid!) and Kelly spent six hours weeding preparing the gardens. The gardens were planted on May 31 and June 2.
Volunteers planting the pollinator garden. Student volunteers.
EKU Scholar House
Kelly Watson is providing the educational partner for this large outdoor classroom space and plants were purchased from Ironweed Native Plant Nursery. This site already has three large, raised beds and they’re currently working to create a larger outdoor classroom space.
On June 1, EKU Scholar House and EKU Sustainability Office hosted a planting event. Volunteers helped plant the classroom space and children visited educational tables with games and activities. One table taught the children how to plant a seed, and the children took their small pots home!
Students help volunteers plant their new garden classroom. Teachers and volunteers lead the planting.
Second Street School
Connie Lemley of Frankfort facilitated the grant for the group. The plants were purchased from Ironweed Native Plant Nursery and the Capital Area Extension Master Gardeners (CAEMG) will provide educational support to ensure the garden’s success.
On Saturday, June 3, Eagle scout candidate Sam Curry and his fellow scouts planted a pollinator garden at Second Street School in Frankfort, Kentucky. The spot is concrete bound by sidewalks and Second Street, so it will receive a lot of traffic.
First, the group removed a large knock-out rose and turf before planting. Sam has a large number of volunteers to help maintain the garden over the summer. From there, the school’s volunteers, under Connie’s direction, will resume care using Sam’s educational and maintenance plan for guidance.
A before shot of the Second Street School pollinator garden plot. Second Street School volunteers. Second Street School scout volunteers.
Liberty Hall Historical Site
Anna Campomanes, the garden curator for Liberty Hall in Frankfort, secured a grant to restore an historical garden that is available to the public. CAEMG is the educational partner.
Anna decided to supplement an existing historical garden with native shrubs. CAEMG visited the site and provided a list of sun-loving native shrubs that would fit the garden nicely and attract pollinators. Many people don’t think of native shrubs when they think of pollinators, so this is a unique opportunity.
Planting is scheduled for fall. Liberty Hall hopes to host a public workshop for planting shrubs that day. This will give KNPS and CAEMG the opportunity to promote native shrubs as pollinators to the public!
Going forward
It’s an auspicious start, and the commitment and enthusiasm from the grantees are infectious! We plan regular updates throughout the summer, so watch for more information in The Lady Slipper.
[THESE WORKSHOPS HAVE COMPLETED] Some spaces are still available in both of the upcoming KNPS workshops. There will be both a beginner level and an intermediate level, Wetland Plant Identification workshop at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, KY on June 27th for the Beginner class and June 28th-29th for the Intermediate class! The workshops are field courses, exploring the Ohio River wetlands and learning how to ID the plants that are found there. The workshops are conducted in sequence and interested parties can sign up for just the Beginner workshop, just the Intermediate workshop, or both. To register for the workshops, use the form at the bottom of this page.
The Beginner Wetland Plant ID workshop will be one day long, on June 27th, from 9AM CDT – 5PM CDT. The Beginner workshop will cover basic flower structure, leaf arrangement, etc. while highlighting plants as we go. It will be less technical with a focus on demystifying the nomenclature so as to be able to start keying plants out. The instructor will introduce C-values, wetland indicator status, and the basics on how to see the landscape in a broader, phytological way. There is a $25 registration fee for this workshop.
The Intermediate Wetland Plant ID workshop will be held over two days, June 28-29th, from 9AM CDT – 5PM CDT each day. This workshop is aimed towards individuals with some prior experience in field identification of wetland plants and will focus on how to identify more complicated genera and groups (i.e. graminoids and asters). An understanding of basic floral morphology (petals, sepals, tepals, stamens, etc.) is more or less expected. We will be looking at keys and getting a bit deeper in the descriptive elements of the flora.In addition to Audubon State Park, there may be a visit to other close natural areas. There is a $75 registration fee for this course.
Courses will take place from 9am-5pm CDT each day and have a 1-hour break for lunch (bring your own lunch). You will need to bring a notebook, loupe or hand-lens, phone or camera, pencils, and preferred reference book if you’d like. Remember that these are field courses and may get into wet areas, so please wear appropriate clothing and bring water.
If you have any questions, email us at KYPlants@knps.org
*About the Instructor
Nathanael J. Pilla is a botanist for Midwest Biological Survey, LLC. He also is an adjunct professor at University of Notre Dame, hosts the YouTube series, Botany and Beer, and is part of the Chicago Wilderness Alliance Steering Committee. Nathanael is well versed in the terrestrial and aquatic flora of the Midwest bringing his knowledge and charisma with him in and outside the workplace. He has experience in botanical research and identification, hands-on resource management, project management and plant identification, and his written work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals. He recently co-authored the book, Wildflowers of the Indiana Dunes National Park, which was published through Indiana University Press. When he is not botanizing, he spends his time writing and singing ridiculous songs.
Registration Form for Workshops
Use this form to register for the workshop. The Intermediate workshop is now full, You can still sign up for the Beginner workshop on June 27th .
Date of trip: June 17, 2023 Start time: 10AM EDT Location: Lilley Cornett Woods, Letcher Co., KY Difficulty of hike: Medium difficulty, approximately 1.5 miles
Join us for a hike at one of the most notable natural areas in Kentucky and a registered national landmark, EKU’s Lilley Cornett Woods. Located in Letcher County, Lilley Cornett Woods is an old-growth forest, a forest that has not undergone any man-made changes in 150 years. During your hike LCW guides will provide you with an educational experience on various topics ranging from the 12 characteristics of old growth, mixed mesophytic forest, diverse flora and fauna native to Appalachia, and most notably LCW’s incredible “big trees.”
The Shop Holler trail is LCW’s shorter trail at approximately 1.5 miles with medium difficulty. Plan to be on the trail for about 3 hours with the guide, while you traverse the mountainside through different forest communities. This is LCW’s most popular trail due to its shorter length, but don’t be fooled, you will be amazed by the diversity of the area and be able to truly understand a mixed mesophytic forest.
No pre-registration is required for this hike. You will meet, register, and sign waivers at the Visitors Center. From the parking lot the Visitors Center building is on the hill, up the sidewalk. Hike leaders will be outside the Visitor’s Center waiting for you.
Lilley Cornett Woods is located at 91 Lilley Cornett Branch, Hallie, KY. Driving Directions.
If you have any questions, email us at KYPlants@knps.org
