Sustainable Spring Garden

Native plants are the basis of sustainable, diverse, and beautiful gardens supporting pollinators, beneficial insects, and wildlife. These gardens thrive without fertilizers, pesticides, mowing, or supplemental watering. We will share garden examples and practical tips for garden care.

Susan Carpenter is the Native Plant Garden curator and gardener at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum. Since 2003, she has worked with students and community volunteers to maintain and monitor a 4-acre garden representing the plant communities of southern Wisconsin. She also leads a conservation project that involves students and the public in documenting and studying native bumble bees, including the endangered rusty-patched bumble bee, Bombus affinis. A graduate of Stanford University, Susan earned her MS in Botany and MS in Science Education at UW–Madison. Her professional interests include plant ecology, ecological restoration, pollinator conservation, and science education.

This talk will discuss the essential components needed to design a vibrant butterfly garden that attracts and supports both adult butterflies and their caterpillar stage. From understanding the needs of butterflies to siting the garden and selecting plant species, we’ll learn how to create a sanctuary that not only appeals to but sustains these delicate and beautiful insects.

Lisa Johnson, Dane County Extension Horticulture Educator,  has a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s in Life Sciences Communication, and worked in the horticulture industry for 8 years prior to coming to Extension in 2000. She provides education for the public and green industry employees, oversees the Dane County Extension Teaching Garden, is a member of the Tree Canopy Collaborative and is staff for the Dane County Tree Board. She has a weekly column in the Wisconsin State Journal, and is a regular guest on Larry Meiller’s ‘Garden Talk’ program on Wisconsin Public Radio.

This talk will share why invasive jumping worms are a concern amongst gardeners and how to check for them in your garden. We’ll discuss the latest best management practices to adapt your gardening practices to avoid introducing jumping worms and ways to garden successfully with jumping worms.

Brad Herrick is the Ecologist and Research Program Manager at the UW-Madison Arboretum and a PhD candidate in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. His research interests include plant community ecology, invasion biology, and earthworm ecology. Most recently he has been studying the effects of jumping worms on plant and soil interactions, susceptibility of habitats to invasion, and potential control mechanisms.

Buzz chats with friends from the Nelson Institute about the upcoming EarthFest and exciting new sustainability goals for the UW campus. 

Dr. Nathan Jandl serves as Associate Director of Sustainability at UW–Madison. He works alongside Office of Sustainability leadership to develop institutional sustainability strategy, build partnerships, support Office of Sustainability programs, and collaborate with campus leadership. Nathan also directs communications initiatives for the Office of Sustainability and supervises the student intern communications and podcast teams.

Emily A. Reynolds is the Director of Community Engagement and Alumni Relations at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the UW-Madison.  She leads the Institute’s advancement office and engages with external audiences, such as community organizations, elected officials, Nelson Institute alumni and donors to help forward the mission of the Institute. She has a Masters degree from the Robert M. LaFollette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison, and a BA in Public Relations and Political Science from Illinois State University.