Native Nerds: Growing Habitat, Awareness, and Community
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
A local group known as the “Native Nerds” has recently come together around a shared passion for planting native landscapes, gardens, and prairies. Through this process, they helped inspire and create TWF’s newest grant program, Beyond Lawns: Seedling.
The traditional Beyond Lawns grant program provided assistance to landowners whose property was 1 acre or larger; however, the program lacked opportunities for landowners with smaller spaces.
Beyond Lawns: Seedling serves those whose properties are less than one acre. The program has already taken off, funding up to 15 projects in 2026.
Beyond their role in shaping the new program, the Native Nerds have created a strong community of support. The group continues to learn from one another, sharing successes and mistakes, while spreading awareness about the many benefits of native plants— benefits for pollinators, water quality, wildlife, and community connections.
Meet the local rock star gardeners and native plant experts leading the way. Learn how each of them has turned their personal properties into thriving pollinator oases where wildlife and pollinators abound.
Cindy Gackenheimer
Cindy Gackenheimer, owner of Gack’s Flutterby Gardens, says her journey into native planting started almost by accident when she began planting over the septic tank on her property. She initially chose traditional perennials, but after a few years, she noticed something important: native plants thrived better, and bees and butterflies always chose them over non-natives.
As Cindy dove deeper into native landscaping, she learned that butterfly and bird populations have declined by roughly 30% over the past decade. “We need to do all we can to help them prosper!” she says.
The impact of Cindy’s garden has extended far beyond her own yard.
“My whole neighborhood has changed since I started my garden!” she explains. Many neighbors now have flowers that Cindy shared with them, and even residents across the lake have told her how thrilled they are to see butterflies again. Two neighbors have started beehives, and Cindy notes that the entire community seems more connected as a result.
“I’m excited to be a part of this group committed to spreading our passion for native planting!”
Aleah Southworth
Aleah is another passionate member of the Native Nerds group. For her, native planting is a direct response to today’s environmental challenges.
“We’re in a period where many species are going extinct every day due to the cascading effects of climate change,” she says. “Providing habitat for incredible life right in my yard is an obvious way to do my part.”
Since planting natives, Aleah has noticed improved water infiltration and a significant increase in wildlife—creating daily opportunities to observe, learn, and identify new species. She and her husband prefer a low-maintenance approach, allowing existing natives to thrive while removing invasives, creating new beds where needed, mowing paths, and spending a little time each week weeding.
“We’re comfortable with a more ‘messy’ look,” Aleah explains. “Wild, textured, and diverse is wonderful in our minds.” She compares her landscape to an English garden, with the lawn acting as a rug between mostly wild beds, and notes that clean edges can make even the wildest plantings feel intentional.
Aleah’s lawn transition happened gradually, adding new beds each year—and learning something new every step of the way.
Aleah adds, “I love being part of a group like this—to learn, grow, and support each other. Pun intended!”
Andrea Keller
For Andrea, there are many reasons to choose native plants over traditional turf lawns, but her main motivators are the butterflies. After learning about the decline of Monarch populations, she was drawn to native landscaping and soon discovered how native plants support entire food chains and ecosystems.
“I wish people knew just how important native plants are,” Andrea says. “You don’t need a big space to have a big impact.” She is especially passionate about showing that native landscapes don’t have to look wild or messy—they can be both functional and beautiful. Early on, Andrea struggled to find residential examples of native plantings, noting that jumping from a striped lawn straight to a prairie isn’t realistic for many.
Since installing native plants, Andrea has seen a dramatic increase in life on her property. Where little wildlife once existed, she now observes new species regularly, along with predators like bats and dragonflies—helping reduce mosquitoes naturally.
For those just getting started, she encourages planting pollinator powerhouses and keystone species, such as clustered mountain mint, hoary vervain, and milkweed for monarchs.
Along with her fellow Native Nerds, Andrea has spent years gathering resources to help others get started, including support from TWF, Prairie Moon Nursery, Prairie Nursery, Wild Ones, and GrowItBuildIt.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the tangible impact of something you did to help,” Andrea says. “From a planter pot to acres, we can all make a difference.”
She cherishes the friendships within the group, adding, “We’re building habitat, building community, and supporting each other—and I love that.”
Kay Pylant
Kay was drawn to native landscaping after realizing that traditional turf lawns offer little to no support for native species. Her motivation is rooted in preservation—protecting native plants, conserving natural resources, and reducing the use of chemicals in the landscape.
“I wish more people understood the importance of protecting our native species,” Kay says. “Native landscaping is about conservation—of wildlife, water, and the land itself.”
Kay is intentional about design, especially in more urban settings. She favors paths, borders, and clearly defined garden areas, describing her approach as “business in the front, party in the back.” She also believes signage plays an important role, helping others understand that a native garden is purposeful and planned.
She emphasizes that patience is key. Native plants can take several years to establish and may go dormant or shift locations as the garden evolves.
“Your garden is always changing,” Kay explains. “You can spend as much or as little time as you want maintaining it. Once plants are established, there’s very little watering or upkeep required.”
Her advice for beginners is simple: make a plan, start with just a few plants, and don’t overthink it. “Gardening should be fun,” she says. “You’ll make mistakes—we all do—but that’s how you learn. Talk to a Native Nerd!”
Some of Kay’s favorite moments come from watching others experience her garden for the first time. She adds, “I love the amazement on people’s faces when they see flocks of hummingbirds in my garden and there are no feeders, just native flowers.”
Reflecting on the group, Kay adds, “it’s so much fun. We were friends before all of this started, with a ‘nerdy’ need to embrace all things native. Being able to pool our talents to help others on their native journey is a dream come true.” She continues, “I’m excited to see where this adventure takes us. Thank you to Caitlin and The Watershed Foundation for letting us have fun while we educate—and hopefully inspire others to share our love of natives and become ‘nerds’ too.”
Join the Native Plant Movement
While these Native Nerd ambassadors have individually tackled their lawn conversions, they want to provide a space where interested property owners can have a community of other gardeners to learn from and ask questions.
Want to give native plants a try this spring? The Watershed Foundation is hosting a Beyond Lawns Workshop to help landowners incorporate native plants or even convert their entire lawn!
