Curious by Nature with Deep Roots

Late spring in the Midwest means hotter temps and more rain which equals more garden maintenance! Join Deep Roots’ “native plant nerds” Cydney and Maddie as they highlight summer blooms, weeds, and demonstrate maintenance strategies to support your gardens at home! Have a plant that gets too tall in the fall? Or perhaps you regret adding a prolific native plant species to your garden? Techniques include cutting back flowers so they don't spread by seed, using a paint scraper as a weeding tool, and demonstrating the late spring pruning technique known as the “Chelsea Chop”.Visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature to view the video of this episode, review our archive, and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST where you can ask your native gardening questions!Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected] Native Plant Species:Dittany (Cunila origanoides) Woodland Spiderwort (Tradescantia ernestiana) Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa) Glade Coneflower (Echinacea simulata)Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) Missouri Evening Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa) Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) Tall Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Willow-leaved Sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius) Grayhead Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendular)Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum)Non-Native Plant Species:White Clover (Trifolium repens)Bindweed (Convolvulus genus)

Through observation you can determine how prolific a plant will spread and if it’s compatible with other plants in your garden. From rapid spreaders to plants that prefer their space, join Cydney Ross of Deep Roots as she explores the sociability of native plants in a garden setting. She also answers questions from a live audience about how native plants work well in containers, how sociability may differ regionally, and more. See plant pairings that will inspire your next gardening adventure!Visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature to view the video of this episode, review our archive, and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST where you can ask your native gardening questions!Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected] Key Takeaways and Things to Consider:Sociability of native plants is a spectrum. How do plants spread? What’s their longevity? What do their roots look like? Find clues observing natural communities and established gardens.Low Sociability – “stays put” for the most part, doesn’t reseed readily, slow expansion and takes time to establish.Medium Sociability – moderately expands in an area over-time.High Sociability – prolific spread through seed, rhizomes, or stolons. Outcompetes less social species within a few years.Less Social, Solitary Species:Rock Pink (Phemeranthus calycinus)Pussytoes (Antennaria species)Short Bee Balm (Monarda bradburiana)Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)Small Skullcap (Scutellaria parvula)Alumroot (Heuchera species)Rose Verbena (Glandularia candensis)Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)Crested Iris (Iris cristata) Copper Iris (Iris fulva)Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)Oak Sedge (Carex albicans)Cedar Sedge (Carex eburnea)Dittany (Cunila origanoides)Thread-leaf Bluestar (Amsonia ciliata)Royal Catchfly (Silene regia)Woodland Spiderwort (Tradescantia ernestiana)Wild Sweet William (Phlox divaricata) Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa)Medium or Moderate Spreading Species:Robin’s Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus)Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)Golden Groundsel (Packera obovata)Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)Woodland Pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica)Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)Missouri Evening Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)Highly Social or Gregarious Species:Meadow Anemone (Anemonastrum canadense) New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)Prairie Feather Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)Cliff Goldenrod (Solidago drummondii)Rigid Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)Tall Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)Blue Sage (Salvia azurea)Willow-leaved Sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius)Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)Cord Grass (Spartina pectinata)Grayhead Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)Additional Resources: What is Plant Sociability? Jared Barnes, PhD - Meristem BlogHow Plant Sociability is Critical in Natural Gardens and ShorelinesSociability Rankings - Benjamin Vogt of Prairie UpSociability Metrics: Tools to Interpret Designed Plant Communities for Public Gardens

How long should you water a newly planted perennial garden and what are the best practices for dividing and transplanting native plants? Also oops - what happens if you accidentally plant the wrong tree? Is all hope lost? Can you move it?? Enjoy this bonus minisode as Deep Roots native plant nerds, Maddie Ball and Cydney Ross dig in to a residential garden!Visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature to view the video of this episode, review our archive, and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST where you can ask your native gardening questions!Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected]

April showers brought all the native flowers! Join Deep Roots as their “native plant nerds” take a virtual walk through Cydney’s home garden, show practical gardening tips, and talk about how to build gardens from scratch. Maddie Ball and Cydney Ross identify garden-variety native plants and demonstrate editing gardens with intent over time. Learn how (and when!) to divide or edit out native plants in the garden.During the live Q&A Deep Roots answers gardening questions about best transplant practices, native plants that smell GOOD, how often to water your garden, and seasonal maintenance tips. Learn how to expand your garden and "harden your heart" when it comes to editing your native garden over time.Native Plant Species in Cydney's Garden (roughly in order of bloom-time):Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)Golden Groundsel (Packera obovata)Wild Sweet William (Phlox divaricata)Robin’s Plantain (Erigeron pulchellus)Prairie Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta)Rose Verbena (Glandularia canadensis)---Short Bee Balm (Monarda bradburiana)Copper Shoulder Sedge (Carex bicknellii)Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana)Small Skullcap (Scutellaria parvula)Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)Missouri Evening Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa)---Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) Savanna Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa)Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)---Star Tickseed (Coreopsis pubescens)Dittany (Cunila origanoides)Cliff Goldenrod (Solidago drumondii)Visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature to view the video of this episode, review our archive, and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST where you can ask your native gardening questions!Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected]

Enjoy this Earth Day bonus episode, where we invite you to experience the outdoors in a new way. Deep Roots partnered with Sami Aaron, founder of The Resilient Activist, to bring you a guided outdoor meditation session. Sami highlights the vital role that meditation and mental health play in sustaining climate activists and building long-term resilience.For the best experience, find a comfortable outdoor space. We recommend listening with one headphone in to follow Sami’s guidance, while leaving the other ear open to take in the natural sounds around you.The Resilient Activist:https://theresilientactivist.orgUpcoming Curious By Nature Episodes:https://deeproots.org/curious-by-nature/

Join Deep Roots as their “native plant nerds” take a virtual walk through the gardens of the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center. In this episode Maddie Ball and Cydney Ross identify garden-variety Missouri native plants, how to maintain them, and their numerous ecological benefits. During the live Q&A Deep Roots answers gardening questions about what to do about trees with water sprouts, the varying levels of native plant sociability, and recommendations on native plant pairings. Get inspired by spring blooms that you’ll want to add to your garden!Visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature to view the video of this episode, review our archive, and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST where you can ask your native gardening questions!Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected]

Historically, Missouri was composed of 30,000,000 acres of native prairie which was home to numerous grassland bird species. Today with less than 60,000 acres of quality prairie remaining, how has this impacted bird populations and what can we do about it? Join Deep Roots and the Missouri River Bird Observatory (MRBO) in this inspirational episode as we visit prairie restorations and residents that support native birds in Arrow Rock, Missouri and beyond. MRBO has been monitoring grassland birds across Missouri for 14 years. Learn about their innovative technology to determine “bird-friendliness” in a landscape and best practices for supporting bird populations at home.Visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature to view the video of this episode, review our archive, and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST.Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected]

Companion planting with native plants brings more pollinators and beneficial bugs right into your veggie garden, which means healthier plants and better harvests. Their deep roots help build strong soil and manage water more naturally. Best of all, mixing natives with vegetables creates a lively, resilient garden that works with nature and produces more food. Join Kay Thomason of Deep Roots to learn which native plants will give the biggest boost to your vegetable garden.Visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature to view the video of this episode, review our archive, and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST.Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected]

The Micro-World Living in Your Garden: Why Insects Are the Most Interesting Neighbors You HaveInsects are essential to healthy landscapes and quietly shape our gardens in ways we rarely notice. This presentation invites you to slow down and explore the hidden micro-world living in your garden and the vital roles insects play. Join Tamra Reall, Field Specialist in Horticulture for University of Missouri Extension to learn how insects use gardens as habitat and why even small green spaces matter. We’ll look beyond pollinators to better understand the full range of insect roles that support healthy ecosystems. Along the way, you’ll discover how native plants strengthen these relationships and support a greater diversity of life.To view the video of this episode and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST, visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature Questions, comments or feedback? Contact us at [email protected]

Growing native foods is a delicious, sustainable practice that connects us to nature. Discover the beauty and benefits an edible landscape provides at Prairie Birthday Farm in Kearney, Missouri. Meet farm steward, Linda Hezel, who transformed a degraded fescue lot into a thriving farm where science, art, and food converge.To view the video recording of this episode and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST, visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected] 

Whether you’re designing for a school courtyard, senior living community, or your own backyard refuge, this webinar offers practical guidance for creating landscapes that restore and regenerate. Join Deep Roots and Maria Landoni, founder of SUR Landscape Architecture, as we explore how native plants create therapeutic spaces that heal both people and ecosystems. Discover design principles for healing gardens that support your wellbeing as well as that of your local fauna.To find the video recording of this episode and sign up to join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST, visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature Questions, comments, or feedback? Contact us at [email protected] 

Whether its aphids, powdery mildew, or pesky weeds, the battle to protect your plants from pathogens and overwhelming populations of pests is a daunting one. In this episode of Curious by Nature, the EPA-Region 7’s Pesticide Outreach Coordinator, Sharon Dobesh, discusses sustainable Integrated Pest Management systems. Sharon covers different types of natural enemies and how to encourage species variety in our natural areas to enhance Integrated Pest Management practices.To view the video of this episode and join our webinars live every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 12pm CST, visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature Questions, comments or feedback? Contact us at [email protected]

This is a Curious by Nature minisode featuring the Q&A session with guest expert, Susan Farrington, Natural History Biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation's Ozark Region. Live audience asks questions about best ways to support native insect and bird populations, the impact of native gardens even on a small scale, and more. If you’d like to hear the full episode on the History and Habitats of Caney Mountain Conservation Area, be sure to tune in to the December 4th, 2025 episode when you’re done here! To view the webinar version of this episode, visit www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature to see the show archive.

Take a virtual hike through Ozark County’s Caney Mountain Conservation Area! Join Deep Roots and Missouri Department of Conservation as they explored the habitats and history of this 7,899-acre conservation area deep in the Ozark region. From glade and woodland plant species to the historic Wild Turkey reintroduction and a glimpse into A. Starker Leopold’s cabin – this episode has it all. Stick around for the live Q&A where our live audience asks their native plant and large land management questions to our guest experts from Missouri Department of Conservation.

This is a Curious by Nature minisode featuring the Q&A session with guest expert, Coltin Ridenour of Johnson County Parks and Recreation District. If you’d like to hear the full episode on prescribed fire, be sure to tune in to the November 6th episode when you’re done here! Fire is just one tool in the shed for land management but has been utilized by people for millennia. Join Johnson County Parks and Recreation District’s natural resource team as we learn the valuable roll prescribed burns play in large land management both during the dormant, and less often, the growing season.

Fire is just one tool in the shed for land management but has been utilized by people for millennia. Join the natural resource team of Johnson County Parks and Recreation District and learn the valuable roll prescribed burns play in large land management. Discussions on fire safety and practical tips for burning during the dormant season, and less often, the growing season. This is a great episode to learn ways to implement fire in your landscape. Our live audience asks their land management questions to guest expert, Matt Garrett, Natural Resource Manager for Johnson County Parks and Recreation District.Resources for this show can be obtained by contacting [email protected] or by visiting us online at www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature

When it comes down to it, cultivated spaces are determined by your gardening goals. Join artist and self-proclaimed “native plant nerd”, Cydney Ross as she explores unique gardening aesthetics using Midwestern native plants! From “Mid-Century Modern” to “Tropical” see a dazzling array of native plant palettes to consider for your home gardens. This light-hearted presentation is a creative way to determine your gardening goals and learn more about midwestern native plants. Our virtual audience also asks Cydney their native gardening questions during the live Q&A portion of the show.Join us for our live webinar series each 1st and 3rd Thursdays! Register online www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature

When it comes down to it, cultivated spaces are determined by your gardening goals. Whether you're planting to reduce the size of your lawn, support wildlife, or perhaps for aesthetic reasons - there's a native plant for that! In this educational episode, artist and self-proclaimed “native plant nerd”, Cydney Ross explores unique plant palettes for the home garden. In part one, they explore native plants that fit the “Cottagecore” to “Goth” aesthetics. This light-hearted yet informative presentation is a creative way to learn about Midwestern native plants and determine your gardening goals.

Join Curious by Nature with Deep Roots as we interview Maggie Riggs of Off the Grid Landscaping. She is the founder of the 20-year old native rooftop garden on the historic TWA building in the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City, Missouri. Maggie talks about the history of this garden, growing natives with food, and why native plants are awesome.This episode is in conjunction with our previous episode with local botanist and horticulturalist, Gavin Schaefer. Tune in to that episode to learn more about the native rooftop garden.Join us live for our semi-monthly nature series each 1st and 3rd Thursday where you can ask the experts your native gardening questions! Learn more at www.deeproots.org

This month Deep Roots returns to the TWA rooftop native garden with rising botanist Gavin Schaefer. What do aphid farming ants have to do with urban landscaping? A TON! See green infrastructure supporting wildlife in the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City and learn how native plantings combat climate change. Guest expert, Gavin Schaefer answers questions from the audience and delves into philosophies of why what you plant matters. Discover how planting native in urban areas create beauty and healthy landscapes – no matter the footprint of the garden!See all the beauty native plants provide and tune in to our live nature series "Curious by Nature" by visiting us online at www.deeproots.org/curious-by-nature or checking out our channel on Youtube @DeepRootsKC