Go wild and grow native plants.

McAlester OK – Ready to create a garden that’s both beautiful and beneficial? Dive into a day of inspiration and practical tips as the Oklahoma Native Plant Network brings its Spring Native Plant Festival to McAlester from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m., Saturday, May 3rd at The Puterbaugh Center, 353 E Adams Ave. Learn about native plants and the wildlife that depend on them at this free event.

“Oklahoma is home to multitudes of plants that are stunning in the garden setting that also serve as host plants to birds, butterflies, wasps, bees and beetles,” says Katie Huskerson, ONPN president. “We are excited to make these plants more accessible to people living in the Choctaw Nation and other residents of SE Oklahoma.” Huskerson adds, “Plants that are indigenous to a place are uniquely adapted to better handle a range of weather and other environmental conditions.

ONPN’s Spring Native Plant Festival features 6 native plant vendors, info booths from regional and statewide non-profits and free educational speakers. Attendees will find affordable varieties of Oklahoma-native plants, in the forms of blooming perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees.

“I am so excited to be a part of ONPN’s first ever native plant festival in Southeast Oklahoma. It’s a great privilege to be able to return here to share resources and see more native plants in the hands of folks in this area. I will be speaking on what The Oklahoma Native Plant network represents and why people should add native plants to their spaces. Whether people are interested in creating a butterfly garden, doing a restoration project, or creating habitat for hunting or fishing areas, this will be an event to check out,” says Lauren Kennedy, member of ONPN.

Pollinators are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we consume. Join us and learn how to support these vital creatures by planting more of their essential food sources, native plants! Oklahoma Native Plant Network (ONPN) has organized free educational talks and Q+ A sessions beginning at 11:30 in the Crystal Hall located directly north of the Puterbaugh House featuring:

● 11:30 – 12:30- Lauren Kennedy (native plant landscaper) Why Native? The importance of gardening with native plants.
● 12:45 – 1:45 – Georgia Riggs (wildlife biologist) – Habitat Creation and Bird Glass Collisions
● 2:00 – 3:00 – David Redhage – (president of the Kerr Center for Sustainable

Agriculture) – Native plants of SE Oklahoma

The ONPN was formed to further educate the public about the value of native plants in the environment and encourage new and established plant growers to increase their production of native plants to meet the overwhelming demand for native plants in private and public spaces.

Image 1 – Join us for a fantastic day as The Puterbaugh Center and Ardeneum of Oklahoma welcomes local growers and non-profits for the ONPN Spring Native Plant Festival! Happening from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 3rd at 353 E Adams Ave. just  north of downtown McAlester. Bring a friend and get inspired to go wild and grow native plants!
Photo courtesy of Jana McCord