According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, resilience refers to “the ability of people or things to recover quickly after something unpleasant, such as shock, injury, etc.” This has recently become quite the buzzword as we as humans are navigating a new normal, but this term can also be applied to our natural ecosystems as they, too, endure the need to recover quickly after shock and injury.

Growing and protecting native plants are important for many reasons: they celebrate the state and region, they are well suited to this region’s growing conditions, and they are the foundation of the complex ecosystem that supports insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Native plants can be tough, beautiful plants for a home landscape and delicate harbingers of the changing seasons. Join this year’s Native Plant Symposium to explore the beauty of native plants and their ability to equip communities with health, recovery and stability, as well as their role in connecting individuals who value and respect nature.