Episode 6: Keystone Plants & Tiny Wings: A Pollinator Week Deep Dive
- White River Nursery
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Released: June 18, 2025
Hosts: Sarah McCue, Charity Cox, Alex Royce
Length: Approx. 26 minutes
🔗 Helpful links and resources throughout
🌼 It's Pollinator Week — Let’s Talk Habitat!
[00:00]Sarah kicks off the episode with a timely topic: National Pollinator Week! White River Nursery has expanded its celebration into a full Pollinator Month, with activities throughout June.
🐝 Decline in Pollinators
[01:00]Charity and Alex discuss declining populations of honeybees, native bees, and Monarch butterflies. A startling stat:
Western Monarch overwintering numbers dropped by 96% from 2023 to 2024.
🌱 What Can We Do?
[02:00]The team outlines key contributors to pollinator decline — habitat loss, pesticide use, invasive species — and what gardeners can do to help.
Action steps:
Reduce lawn size
Avoid pesticides
Plant native species
Remove invasives
“It’s not just about flowers — it’s about the food web.” — Charity
🏞️ Homegrown National Park Movement
[03:00]Charity talks about Homegrown National Park, a grassroots movement started by Doug Tallamy to create native plant gardens in backyards across North America.
“Your flower bed can be part of a national park. That’s just so cool.” — Charity
🧠 Key concept: Keystone plants — native plants critical to local ecosystems.
🏡 Designing Native Landscapes (That Fit Your Style)
[05:00]Alex shares how native gardens don’t have to look messy. The Homegrown National Park site offers style-based planting guides — even for HOA-friendly landscapes.
📌 Resource:👉 Homegrown National Park's Getting Started Tools
“It doesn’t have to be a wild jungle — native plants can be beautiful and tidy.” — Alex
🌼 Lissa Morrison’s "Well-Behaved Natives" & Wild Ones
[06:30]Charity shouts out Lissa Morrison’s list of manageable native plants — available through Ozark Wild Ones.
📌 Resource:👉 Wild Ones National👉 Ozark Chapter Garden Walk Info
[08:00]Charity shares highlights from a recent garden walk at Gulley Park in Fayetteville, led by Camille Newell, showcasing mature native plantings and even pawpaws! 🍈
🌸 Grow Native! Landscape Plans
[10:00]Sarah highlights Grow Native!, a Missouri Prairie Foundation program offering beginner-friendly pollinator landscape plans tailored to different conditions (wetlands, dry shade, etc.).
🛠️ Coming soon to White River Nursery: A butterfly berm inspired by Grow Native’s designs!
🐞 Customer Favorites & Staff Picks
[12:30]Listeners and nursery visitors chimed in with favorite pollinator plants:
Coneflower (Echinacea)
Russian Sage
Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia)
Bachelor Buttons
Milkweed (Asclepias) — essential for Monarchs
Alex's picks:
Early-season: Hollies (great bee forage!)
Late-season: Asters and Goldenrod (supports native wasps, birds)
🌳 Tree Power — Keystone Hosts
[17:00]Charity dives into powerhouse trees for pollinators:
White Oak (Quercus alba): Hosts 436 caterpillar species!
American Plum (Prunus americana): Early bloomer, host plant, and bird food source
🐛 Reminder: Holes in Leaves = Success!
[19:00]The hosts stress that leaf damage is a good sign — it means insects are feeding and completing their life cycles.
“The point of having these plants is to feed the insects.” —Charity
“Celebrate those chewed leaves!” — Charity
🌿 Yard Cleanup with Purpose
[23:00]
Leave stems standing for solitary bee habitat
Build brush piles for overwintering
Avoid overly tidy fall cleanup
Skip spraying and let the balance return naturally
🔚 Wrapping It Up: Start Small, Think Big
[25:30]You don’t have to go all-in overnight. Start with a pot of natives or a small patch in your yard. Every bit counts.
📍 Visit White River Nursery or connect with us online if you have questions!📱 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for pollinator tips and native plant features.
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