Wally Ward will present a program on native plant propagation.  Cultivating plants successfully from seed is something like law practice:  many times cases turn on the facts. An experimental frame of mind and information from experts can bring success, especially with native plants. Occasional crop failures are also a learning tool,  he shall be blunt about what can go wrong, too. Many desirable natives are difficult to obtain as mature plants, so some expertise and success with seeds can festoon a garden with nectar and host plants for butterflies, bees, moths and beetles plus hummingbirds. He shall review topics relating to soils, seed storage, seed sprouting and care of seedlings.

Wally was born in Atlanta and spent his first six years across the street from a creek valley and large park in the Collier Forest section of Atlanta, where he would see nuts and seeds sprouting all around. He also resided in Camp Hill, PA; Alexandria, VA; and Bartlesville, OK in addition to Houston. Frequent trips to California and Florida  introduced him to the flora of those areas as well. He learned to sprout “easy” seeds such as from zinnias, marigolds and the like to assist his mother’s highly successful flower-arranging activities with the National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs  including making flower arrangements for a dinner at the Ford White House during his family’s long tenure in the Washington, D.C., area. His non-botanical career included practicing law; serving as a commercial arbitrator; being employed as a gas-industry lobbyist; and being a public-affairs and an environmental-compliance manager in the oil patch.

Plus don’t miss the Invasive Species ID and Treatment Workshop at Deer Park Prairie on June 23!  Register here!