Native Plants: Beyond the Wild in Community with John Mark Courtney (2023 Nursery Opening Lecture)

With so many native plants available, how do you successfully choose what is right for your garden? This presentation will draw from John Mark Courtney’s personal experience and observations in nature. We will look for examples of composition and planting densities in the landscape to guide us. Many great examples will be found around our feet as we virtually stroll through the diverse habitats along the Preserve’s many trails. We will explore the multiple shades of sun exposure and dig into soil composition to understand what exactly is meant by moist, well-drained or heavy clay.

John Mark Courtney is an avid plantsman, professional grower and lover of all things wild. He is the founder and owner of Kind Earth Growers LLC, a native plant nursery specializing in aquatic, wetland and upland perennials in Upper Bucks County, PA. After completing his B.S. in environmental design from Delaware Valley University in 1998, Courtney pursued his passion for growing native plants and environmental stewardship first at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and then at Aquascapes Unlimited Inc., as the head grower and operations manager for 20 years. Courtney has helped educate and inspire others through published articles, lectures, keynote addresses and appearances on radio programs and Martha Stewart’s television show.

This program is free, but registration is required to receive your Zoom invite link.