Episode 21

Lessons From the Prairie with Chris Helzer

Published on: 29th May, 2024

Lessons from the Prairie

Episode Introduction

In today’s episode, Lessons From the Prairie, we chat with Chris Helzer about invasive species, what makes a landscape ecologically resilient, and why we don't have to recreate the past for the present to be meaningful.

Host Stephanie Barelman

Stephanie Barelman is the founder of the Bellevue Native Plant Society, a midwest motivational speaker surrounding the native plants dialogue, and host of the Plant Native Nebraska Podcast.

Guest Chris Helzer

Chris Helzer is Director of Science and Stewardship for The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, where he conducts research and supervises the Conservancy’s preserve stewardship program. He also helps develop and test prairie management and restoration strategies. Chris is also dedicated to raising awareness about the value of prairies through his photography, writing and presentations. He is the author of The Prairie Ecologist blog, and two books: The Ecology and Management of Prairies in the Central United States and Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter. He is also a frequent contributor to NEBRASKAland magazine and other publications.

Episode Sponsors

Today's episode is sponsored by Lauritzen Gardens:

laurtizengardens.org

Today's episode is also sponsored by Lucky Toad Restorative Gardens:

https://www.luckytoadgardens.com/

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Episode Content

I gleaned talking points from Chris's blog, The Prairie Ecologist, which you can and should read here!

Insects and invertebrates are very important to ecosystem function: help soil fertility, insect biomass, ant engineers, species balance (predators and prey,) seed dispersal, bird food, pollination.
A prairie is only as good as its ecological resilience: Habitat size/ connectivity to other habitats and biodiversity is important. A landscape needs to be malleable and able to deal with changes because nature isn't static. A large diverse community is best able to adapt to changes.
Management can be an important tool in re-establishing native landscapes: Land management has been around since human beginnings and interestingly enough, some "natural" ecosystems have been shaped by human involvement. But, in our modern times, we can find a healthy balance between over-involvement and stewardship. We can guide nature in a good direction, manage competition, and encourage collaboration. Basically, we should aim for being responsible "parents" that want our kids to thrive...
Life on earth is on a trajectory of change: The prairie of today is not the prairie of yesterday and won't be the prairie of tomorrow. Our generation is dealing with increased C02, nitrogen deposition, extreme weather, decomposition of natural habitats, rising temps. We can't get trapped in our own sense of nostalgia and avoid reality. We can grow with nature, we can be a good part of the change, we can even facilitate the change and help facilitate other species' resilience. "Conserve the stage, not the actors." Chris is making the case that humans can help conserve the stage.
Invasive species hurt native populations, and yet, some non- native plants can benefit diversity: Goatsbeard (salsify) and dandelions are good examples Chris provides. I use zinnia, verbena bonariensis, and Mexican sunflowers in my garden for Monarch forage since it's in their range. We do need to think about what's additive vs. what is suppressive. Smooth brome is an example of an exotic plant that is suppressive, it's something that's moved in and really creates a monoculture.
Plantings don't have to mirror what came before historically to be effective: We can't create something brand new that is a perfect replica of something in the past. My native plant cottage garden is not the habitat that was here 200 years ago. But, it is habitat. We can ask ourselves what we want to do with a landscape and we can look at our goals and we can think of the myriad of ways we can provide support. If we are planting close to 70% native plants or more, we are doing a great job at supporting wildlife species.
Nature is crazy: Sometimes nature seems like a slapdash science experiment that magically works! Plant and animal species have developed some pretty bizarre ways of getting the job done. Read up on the truly freaky " series of unfortunate events" that allows milkweed pollination to happen on Chris's blog here: https://prairieecologist.com/2021/01/26/milkweed-pollination-a-series-of-fortunate-events/. I once heard a story of the woman who owned a local hamburger restaurant slapping the burger patties under her armpits to flatten them. I don't know if it's true, but it would be another example of a bizarre process that works.
Experimentation is an opportunity to learn: How can we possibly learn what works if we don't learn what doesn't? Don't be too hard on yourself. Let yourself make some mistakes. In my opinion, the mistakes are the wins because without little failures, we don't develop the tools it takes to be successful.
In the face of increasing challenges and opportunities for overwhelm, we can commit ourselves to staying optimistic, resilient, and momentous: We can impact good change. We don't need to resolve all of society's or the planets ills, but we can work to preserve, maintain, and facilitate landscapes into the future. We can leave our immediate surroundings better than we found them!

Chris is always a good chat! Thanks for participating!

Additional content related to this episode:

What makes a plant native?

http://bonap.net/fieldmaps Biota of North America North American Plant Atlas database-select Nebraska

https://bellevuenativeplants.org Bellevue Native Plant Society

native (wild type) vs. nativar/native cultivar (native plant cultivated by humans for desirable characteristics)

On the Web

BONAP aforementioned

BNPS aforementioned

http://www.facebook.com/groups/bellevuenativeplantsociety- BNPS on Facebook

Books & Authors

Rick Darke- The Living Landscape

Douglas Tallamy- Professor and Chair of the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Entomology at the University of Delaware, author of The Living Landscape, Nature's Best Hope, naturalist, and curator of "Homegrown National Park".

Enrique Salmon- Iwigara

Daniel Moerman -Native American Ethnobotany

Heather Holm- https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com

Native Plants of the Midwest

Planting in a Post-Wild World

Jon Farrar's Field Guide to Wildflowers of Nebraska