Saturday, March 1, 2025

Stop and smell the flowers!

The Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is excited to announce they are hosting a native plant kit sale this spring. Eight native plant kits will be offered that feature native plugs of the Great Lakes region. Available kits include Basic Prairie Garden, Keystone Pollinator Kit, Low-Profile Garden, Monarch Garden, Purple Rain Garden, Prairie Grass Kit, Rain Garden, and Shade Kit. Each kit contains 50 plants, when planted 18” on-center, they will cover approximately 100 square feet. *Please note, some species substitutions may be required based on availability. No custom requests are available.

Using regional natives in your landscaping has many benefits. These plants are adapted to the region’s particular climate conditions; once they are established, they should require little watering. Native plants also benefit native pollinators and other insect species because many of these animals have evolved specialized relationships with specific native plants. In addition, many native insect species are plant host-specific; a well-known example of this relationship is the monarch butterfly, whose caterpillars feed only on milkweed plants. Many natives also work hard to hold soil in place with their deep root systems, reducing sediment runoff and water pollution, which is of utmost importance in Steuben County - a county with over 101 lakes.

All native plant kits cost $150.00; the Keystone Pollinator Kit costs $200.00. The Keystone Pollinator Kit is offered at a higher price point because the plant species it contains are more expensive to produce. Orders will be available for pickup at the Steuben County SWCD office in early June at the Steuben County SWCD office on a day to be determined.

Orders and payment for the native plant kits are due to the Steuben County SWCD (CASH or CHECK ONLY) by March 24, 2025. The Steuben County SWCD office is located at 1220 N 200 W, Suite L, Angola, IN. Please call or email the office at (260) 665-3211 Ext. 3 or steubenswcd@gmail.com for kit species information or with any additional questions. No online or phone orders will be accepted.