Native Havens: Building Pollinator Habitats
Saturday, November 14, 2026
8:15 AM-8:45 AM – Registration, Exhibitor Tables, and Book Sales
8:45 AM – Welcome and Opening Remarks, Sandra Washburn, President, Lake to Prairie Chapter
9:00 AM -10:10 AM – Keynote Speaker – Heather Holm- From Canopy to Groundlayer, Building Soft Landings with Keystone Plants for Pollinators
This presentation explores the powerful connection between keystone plants and the insects that depend on them. You’ll learn how to implement “Soft Landings” in landscapes of all scales from home gardens to larger managed sites. This innovative habitat design and management strategy focuses on creating layered mini ecosystems beneath native trees to support pollinators throughout their life cycles. Participants will learn what defines a pollen specialist, discover examples of these fascinating bee-plant relationships, and understand how keystone plants function as foundational species in our ecosystems.
You’ll benefit from practical strategies on site preparation methods, herbicide considerations, and building a resilient plant matrix of sedges, cool season grasses, and flowering keystone species. By the end of the presentation, participants will be equipped to design and install Soft Landing plantings that transform conventional landscapes into thriving sanctuaries for bee, caterpillars and other beneficial insects.
10:10 AM – 10:45 AM – Morning Break, Refreshments, Exhibitor Tables and Book Sales
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM – Steve Sass, Midwestern Butterflies and Moths: Morphology and Conservation
The order of Lepidoptera is perhaps the most beloved in the entire insect kingdom and their adaptations are vast and varied. Steve will introduce some of the fascinating aspects of butterflies and moths and provide tips on how our residential and commercial landscapes can help support their conservation.
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM – Short Break, Exhibitor Tables, Book Sales
12:00 PM – 12:55 PM – Will Akin, Backyard Native Ecosystems Explore the best native plants to incorporate into your home landscape to create meaningful ecological change and valuable habitat. You’ll also learn how to understand your property’s unique microclimate, make informed planting decisions, and maximize the positive impact your landscape can have on our local ecosystem and pollinators.
12:55 PM – 1:00 PM Closing Comments
Tickets at door will be $50! Please purchase early.