Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc.
We advocate the vital role of native plants in the landscape to preserve ecological integrity and connect people with nature.
Who We Are
The Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc. is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) which is operated by a board of volunteers. Currently, most of our events are located in Ohio.
Our Mission
Our mission is to connect people and nature by promoting native plants. These plants play a crucial role in restoring habitats and the natural food chain for wildlife. By planting native plants, including trees and shrubs, we can help strengthen lost biodiversity and restore our land to a healthy and functional ecosystem. We are dedicated to advocating for the conservation of natural areas to protect and preserve intact ecosystems.
Education and Conservation
Each year, we organize a native plant conference and other events such as nature safaris, themed conferences and workshops, yard tours, and field trips.
We explore both urban and suburban settings including wilder areas of Ohio that take us into the heart of our forests, prairies, wetlands, bogs, and fens. Our ultimate goal is to learn all about our natural world, and we invite you to join us in this quest to understand and appreciate the native flora and fauna of our region.
Join, Support or Donate
Join our email lists expanding community and discover valuable information on our website, such as event registration and other relevant resources.
We have no membership fees, but we welcome donations to aid our conservation and education endeavors, allowing us to host events that promote the significance of cultivating and protecting native plants and the wildlife that depend on them. A list of donors and a donor form is located on this page.
Who We Support
The Midwest Native Plant Society selects organizations that meet specific criteria for the distribution of event proceeds. In addition, we also offer the White Oak Scholarship Program to support young naturalists and adults in related fields. Since 2010, we have donated more than $135,000 to worthy causes as we continue to hold events to educate about the importance of creating biodiversity using native plants in landscapes and the restoration of native habitats. Previous recipients of donations include:
Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc.
Board of Directors
Officers & Steering Committee: Diana Malas, President; Cheryl Vargas; Vice-President; Ned Keller, Treasurer; Cathy Plum, Secretary. Accounting Assistant: Debbie Karr, Exec. Director: Kathy McDonald. Trustees: Michele Martin Hisney, Teri Gilligan, Jennie Hefren, Tom Borgman, Ann Geise, Austin Miller, Jim McCormac, Natasha McColmon, Wolterman.
Volunteers and Associates: Judy Semroc, Kim Banks, Penny Borgman, Lisa Rainsong, Wendy Partridge, NIkki and Norah Tempus, Lexie Stevenson, Michelle Soski. Images on this site courtesy of Jim McCormac, Chris Zacharias, Brook Decubellis, Kathy McDonald, Nina Harfmann, Ned Keller. Artwork by Ann E. Geise.
Chances are, you have never thought of your garden – – indeed, of all of the space on your property – – as a wildlife preserve that represents the last opportunity we have for sustaining plants and animals that were once common throughout the U.S. But that is exactly the role that built landscapes are now playing and will play even more in the near future.
~ Doug Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants