Episode 4

Let's Talk Some Midwest Natives with Nathan Duffy

Published on: 11th April, 2023

Let's Talk Some Midwest Natives

Episode Introduction

In today's episode we interview Nathan Duffy, owner of Midwest Natives Nursery in Lincoln and dive into what native plants are low maintenance, what cold stratification is, his take on the native plants dialogue, and more!

Host Stephanie Barelman

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

Guest Nathan Duffy

Nathan is the owner of Midwest Natives Nursery, a production and retail greenhouse operation in Lincoln, Nebraska that specializes in the sustainable cultivation of Great Plains-native perennial wildflowers and grasses. Nathan attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where he graduated with a degree in Horticulture in 2018. Having become fascinated with native pollinators and wildflowers during his studies but noticing a lack of availability of such plants at local garden centers, he felt compelled to put his talents to good use and founded Midwest Natives Nursery that same year in order to share his passion and vision with the community.

Thank you, Nathan, for helping us provide some great content in today's talk!

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Episode Content

Midwest Natives Nursery

-only native plants, no cultivars

-a local, truly full-scale nursery with only occasional plant stock acquired elsewhere

Why regionally native?

State boundaries are arbitrary. Regionally is locally in many respects.

Why doesn't Nathan sell more fall stuff?

A lot of plants need colder temps to germinate. Spring plants often sell out and to have more for fall, it all has to be regrown again from seed. Now you know...

Cold stratification? That sounds like something super science-y.

A lot of seeds need certain conditions, like cold (winter) conditions, to germinate. Thus, throwing those babies in a wet, coffee filter and then a single-use plastic baggie we assure you we will reuse many, many times. Boiling, soaking, planting in milk jugs: us plant nerds know how to have fun. Find some detailed germination guides at www.prairiemoon.com.

We want more than 300+ kinds of plants, Nathan. What gives?

Nathan assures us he is going to try to produce woodland spring ephemerals and woody plants eventually, maybe, but my inner plant barometer says it still won't be enough plants.

Easy plants to work with (may go anywhere for the ultimate lazy gardener.)

Spring: golden Alexander, wild Columbine, wild geranium, wild strawberry

Summer: purple coneflower, lanceleaf coreopsis, false sunflower, liatris, anise hyssop (smells legit, and don't quit.)

Fall: heath aster, Missouri goldenrod ( short and not aggressive, basically the opposite of me)

C'mon, are native plants really more low maintenance?

-I didn't use spell check on maintenance twice, at all. And yes, yes they are.

-The big deal: site prep and buying/planting the appropriate plants for the space

How to install native gardens

-get rid of turf grass by scalping the soil, top dress with a 2 inch layer of compost, and call it a day. I've always preferred scalping over herbicide but if you are doing a larger area, you're going to have to rent a sod cutter

-plant densely

-full instructions of Midwest Natives Nursery website https://www.midwestnativesnursery.com/

Where is Midwest Natives and when are they open?

-They are located in the west side of Lincoln, NE near Pioneer's Boulevard

-They DO deliver to Omaha...

-They are open from May 6th to sometime in June (this year) and from Mid August to October. They are only open to the public on Saturdays.

Will you participate in local events?

Probably Mulhall's Wild Plant Party in mid-July and Bellevue Native Plant Society's Pollinator Party at the Bellevue Farmer's Market in Late July/August.

What about using cultivars of native plants?

Most cultivars aren't as good for wildlife because they have been altered. If you want cool colors, plant diversely. Instead of buying an artificially-achieved orange coneflower, plant orange butterfly milkweed, instead.

Appreciate what is there and stop trying to make things what they aren't! Our two cents...

Thank you Nathan, it was fun!

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 (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