- A vibrant native plant garden at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum has been honored as a Native Garden of Excellence by the Grow Native! program, celebrating nearly a decade of ecological beauty and conservation at the Wright County landmark.
Established in 2016 with significant support from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the garden spans more than 4,500 square feet and features over 2,000 native plants. Located in front of the museum, the garden draws in monarch butterflies and other pollinators while also providing important environmental benefits such as erosion control and improved water quality.
MDC Community Conservation Planner Ronda Burnett joined Essman in hosting a tour of the garden on Saturday, June 21. Visitors learned about the site’s history, plant species, and conservation practices, emphasizing the garden’s role in both honoring Wilder’s legacy and promoting biodiversity.
The Gardens of Excellence program, a collaboration between MDC and the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! initiative, showcases thoughtfully designed and well-maintained native landscapes across Missouri. Each recognized site demonstrates how native plants can serve both aesthetic and ecological purposes.
For more information on the Grow Native! program and native gardening, visit www.grownative.org or mdc.mo.gov.
