22 NEBRASKAland • MARCH 2017
Native Plants
of the Midwest
By Mike Groenewold,
Park Horticulturist
Native Plants of the Midwest, A
Comprehensive Guide to the Best
500 Species for the Garden by
Alan Branhagen is an enjoyable
and informative book suitable for
everyone from casual gardeners to
professional landscapers who live in
the nation's midsection. Mr. Branhagen
describes his book very well in his
own introduction: "This book aims to
inspire readers to plant native plants
while learning how and where to
grow them successfully. I also aim to
explain why it is important to utilize
native plants in a landscape wherever
possible."
Mr. Branhagen
utilizes the
first 70 pages
to review the
essential steps
to develop a
sustainable,
functional
and pleasing
garden. Then
he devotes
the remainder
of his book
to profiling
the attributes
and
character of
500 native plants; in most cases he
even explains how to grow them.
Throughout the book he also devotes
an ample and appropriate amount of
time promoting the important role that
plants play in supporting the web of
life, including both man and wildlife,
in our Midwest landscapes. As an
example, many of his plant profiles
highlight a list of pollinator species
the plant supports for both nectar and
shelter.
The book is not only informative.
Mr. Branhagen's photography is
excellent to even stunning at times,
qualifying it in the category of a
"coffee table" book. It is a valuable and
interesting resource.
Available from Timber Press books
at
timberpress.com. ■
en
March 3
Hiking Marathon Challenge
Ponca State Park (SP), Ponca
March 3, 10, 17
Beginner Muzzleloader Class
Wildcat Hills Shooting Sports Complex,
Gering
March 4
Nature's Engineers Educator
Workshop
Pioneers Park Nature Center, Lincoln
March 4, 11, 18
Beginner Archery Class
Wildcat Hills Shooting Sports Complex,
Gering
March 5
Shootout at Salt Creek
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center, Lincoln
March 6
Learn to Hunt Spring Turkey
Workshop
Game and Parks Southwest District
Office, North Platte
March 7
Ladies' Handgun Skill Training
Club
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center, Lincoln
March 19
Clear Shot Firearms Concealed
Carry Class
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center, Lincoln
March 21
Learn to Hunt Spring Turkey
Workshop
Lincoln Park Fire Station, Hastings
March 25
National Archery in the Schools
Program State Tournament
Speedway Sporting Village, Lincoln
March 25
Spring Turkey Hunting
Archery spring turkey hunting season
opens
March 28
Learn to Hunt Spring Turkey
Workshop
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center, Lincoln
March 31
Muskrat and Beaver
Trapping seasons close for muskrat
and beaver
by Jerry Kane
Contact the Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission
at 402-471-0641 or visit
OutdoorNebraska.
org for more
information. Visit
huntsafenebraska.org for a list
of hunter education classes and
boatsafenebraska.org for a list of
boating safety classes.
