If You Plant It (thoughtfully), They Will Come: Attracting Humans to Your Native Plant Garden

The way humans relate to and interact with their ecosystem determines whether or not thousands of other species have a place to live. In this lively talk, William will discuss how to (and how not to) use native plants to attract humans to your native plant garden and how to get them (especially the stubborn ones) to relate and interact positively with the natural world. William Kirst is the founder of Adapt: Community Supported Ecology a 501(c)3 that trains Community Leaders who, in turn, offer a variety of free ecological services, and is co-owner of Adapt Landscapes LLC a full-scale garden design and installation company for those seeking larger, elegant native plant and perennial edible landscapes. While not freaking out about running two organizations, he likes to hang out with his children – doing art or playing football, play a variety of musical instruments, sing with Adapt Landscapes co-owner Kat Baskin, read science fiction and pretend that someday he will start running or practicing yoga again. This program was presented to Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones via Zoom on February 26, 2025.