Photo credit: Stephanie Schuck
Join us October 17 at the Indiana Native Plant Society’s 33rd annual conference on the theme, Wildlife Corridors: Linking Landscapes for Biodiversity, encompassing topics from ecological restoration and rare plant conservation to gardening for birds and HOAs and more.
Back to Annual Conference main page and sponsors.
Speakers
Doug Tallamy (keynote)
Keeping Our Common Birds Common
Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 116 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 45 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His books include Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, The Nature of Oaks, winner of the American Horticultural Society’s 2022 book award, and his latest book How Can I Help. In 2021 he cofounded Homegrown National Park with Michelle Alfandari (HomegrownNationalPark.org). His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, Allegheny College, Ecoforesters, The Garden Club of America, The Herb Society, and The American Horticultural Association.
Mike Homoya
Chronicles of Primeval Indiana
Michael Homoya served for 37 years as Botanist/Plant Ecologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves. He is a Fellow and former president of the Indiana Academy of Science and past president of the Indiana Native Plant Society. He authored or co-authored over 75 scientific papers and popular articles pertaining to natural features of Indiana and the Midwest. Books he has written include Orchids of Indiana; Wildflowers and Ferns of Indiana Forests: A Field Guide; Wake Up, Woods; and Wildflowers of the Midwest (co-authored with Scott Namestnik). His most recent books include Minnesota in Bloom; Wisconsin in Bloom; and Wake Up, Wetlands (in press). His awards include the Indiana Academy of Science’s Distinguished Scholar of the Year Award, Distinguished Career Public Service Award from Conservation Law Center, Barbara J. Restle Lifetime Conservation Award from Sycamore Land Trust, and Sagamore of the Wabash for his contributions to protect Indiana’s significant natural areas and its flora and fauna.
Dani Tippmann
Stories from the Grasslands and the Square Meter Project
Dani is a Miami Tribe of Oklahoma citizen, descended from Takumwah, and Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville. She serves the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma as the Kiihkayonki ARPA Community Food Program Director at the Fort Wayne CREO. Part of her job is installing and maintaining gardens for food production, eliminating invasive plants, and harvesting plants for natural foods and crafts. She enjoys talking about it all with tribal members. She has been involved in the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma with projects such as the annual Eewaansaapita experience, which involved cooking and plant knowledge. She was employed as the Whitley County Historical Museum Director for 14 years before starting her current position with the tribe. Her experience includes programming for Miami Days at the Chief Richardville House and as an Indiana Master Naturalist, among many other places. Dani is certified as an ISDH “Morel Mushroom Identification Expert” and an ISDH “Wild Mushroom Expert.” Dani has been interested in gardening, wild plants, and animal usage for most of her life. She regularly harvests fresh roadkill for meat, leather, and feathers!
Jared Goodykoontz
Native Plants are Party Invitations!
Jared Goodykoontz is a school naturalist, author, game designer and native plant enthusiast from Columbus, Ohio. He is blessed to live in the country with his wife and 3 kiddos surrounded by forest and a restored prairie. You can find his books, games and more at his website Jaredthenatureguy.com or on Instagram @jaredthenatureguy
Clair Lane
From Awareness to Action: Engaging HOAs and Homeowners in Native Plant and Invasive Species Stewardship
Claire Lane is the Urban Conservationist for the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District and coordinator of the Hamilton County Invasives Partnership (HIP). Her work focuses on engaging residents, HOAs, and community partners in invasive species management, native plant conservation, and habitat restoration efforts.
Scott Namestnik
Updates on Indiana’s Rare Plant Conservation Programs
Scott is the Botanist at the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center, which is part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Nature Preserves. Much of his work involves conducting botanical inventories, assessing sites for protection consideration, and documenting and monitoring occurrences of endangered and threatened species. He has a degree in Botany with a focus in Environmental Science from Miami University and over 25 years of experience with the flora of the Great Lakes region and the Midwestern United States. He is co-author of Wildflowers of the Midwest with Michael Homoya (Timber Press) and Wildflowers of the Indiana Dunes National Park with Nathanael Pilla (Indiana University Press). He is a board member of the Indiana Native Plant Society – North Chapter and heads up the INPS Journal team. Scott also is the coordinator of the Indiana Plant Conservation Alliance.
Jill Casey
Updates on Indiana’s Rare Plant Conservation Programs
Jill joined the Indiana Native Plant Society as the Program Facilitator in 2014. Her work focuses on implementing the Indiana Rare Plant Watch program–a community science initiative to monitor Indiana’s rare plant populations–as well as supporting the work of all INPS chapters and programs. Jill has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana Wesleyan University and a graduate certificate in restoration ecology from Auburn University.