Monettans encourage planting native species 

Story and photos by Melonie Roberts

Kathleen Farrally, of Monett, has created a quiet haven in her backyard, filled with native Missouri plants and trees, along with walkways, secluded niches for sipping her morning coffee and enjoying a frequent Monarch visitor to her garden. 

When Kathleen Farrally moved here several years ago, she looked out on her back yard and vowed to make changes.

Kathleen Farrally, of Monett, has created a quiet haven in her backyard, filled with native Missouri plants and trees, along with walkways, secluded niches for sipping her morning coffee and enjoying a frequent Monarch visitor to her garden. 

“I dug up everything,” she said. “The former owner had crisscrossed the back yard with fences, and I took those down to open up the back yard. I started with my Japanese corner, because I was excited about Japanese gardens. I got overwhelmed with flowers and bushes.

“Then I started switching to wildflowers,” she said. “I lived in Missouri all my life and have always grown wildflowers. The butterflies love the sedum, and the skippers love them. I love the butterflies honey bees, all of them.”

Then Kathleen ran into Karen Richardson at the Monett area YMCA, and they started talking gardens. Karen had previously worked on the pocket garden across from the Monett Historical Museum on Broadway, seeding the space with native plants sure to attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees. The ladies found their mutual interest in dirt to lead to a new friendship, and for Kathleen, a switch from the Japanese garden to natives.

“During the pandemic, I worked on my downtown garden, which is all natives,” Karen said. “Kathleen has helped keep it watered throughout the hottest summer months. But the plants are pretty hardy. They are meant for this climate.”



Multi-colored florals combine with low-growing ground cover and other native Missouri plants and trees line the steps and boardwalks of Kathleen Farrally’s back yard, where she has created a peaceful haven along one of Monett’s busiest thoroughfares.

Ann Groskurth lived in Joplin, and went on a wildflower walk at Prairie State Park, where she became enchanted with native Missouri plants.

“I took some native home to Joplin, and them moved some of those plants to Monett when I moved here,” she said. “It was rainy when I moved here, so I could plant then.”

Ann has also been attending native plant sales, usually hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

“But Ozark Soil has some really nice natives, too,” she said. “Joplin also has a plant sale.”

The ladies have dug and planted and planned and gone to buy more plants to fill in small niches in their flower beds or to surround a native tree or water feature.

“I have several beds,” Kathleen said. “I’ve planted coneflower, amaranth, butterfly milkweed and my grandma’s chives. I keep a list of all the butterflies I see.”

Karen has hosted Jeff Cantrell, an education consultant with the Missouri Department of Conservation in Neosho, to speak at the museum on the benefits of planting native.

“Native plants attract birds, butterflies, dragonflies and bees that help pollinate the plants,” he said. “Just remember, pollinators equals food equals economy.”

In addition to beautifying the yard, native species plants are hardy and drought resistant. With the many varieties of micro-environments located in southwest Missouri, green thumb enthusiasts have several choices in what kind of natural landscapes to encourage on their own properties.

Nesting cover for wildlife can be provided by adding shrubs or small trees with compact, multi-stemmed branches, or some species that have thorns, according to Cantrell. He recommended haws, dogwoods, hawthorns, elderberries and hazelnut trees as excellent choices. He also noted that hummingbirds love golden currant trees and birds love the fruit from elderberries, while wild plum attracts songbirds. Thorned species repel snakes and other bird predators a plus for those who are not fond of Mr. No Legs. Better, yet, these are multipurpose plants that don’t need water or fertilizer after they are established in the yard.



Some plants to consider include butterfly milkweed, aromatic aster, sand phlox, yellow coneflower, purple poppy mallow and Indian Pink, which are all powerful performers, according to Cantrell. Hummingbirds are attracted to Indian Pink. 

Ann Groskurth, of Monett, has a patch of native Missouri prickly pear, which displays showy large yellow flowers from May to July, then followed by red edible fruits. Groskurth and several other Monettans have formed a group that encourages gardeners to plant native Missouri plants. 

Photo courtesy of Ann Groskurth

To add to the appeal, Cantrell advises building three-dimensional gardens or creating frames and views, and adding resting places.

Karen, who has rescued butterflies for the past five years, said native species are crucial to their survival.

In the meantime, Kathleen continues to enjoy her little slice of heaven every day.

“I eat all my meals out here,” she said. “It’s so peaceful and relaxing.”

Richardson plans to host Cantrell again, hopefully in the spring, when gardeners can get an early start on their own little patch of paradise.

For more information, visit www.mowildflowers.net or call Karen at 678-641-6153. The group, just now forming, will meet periodically to plan, dream and, surely, purchase more plants for their living expressions of art.

Ann Groskurth, of Monett, has created a backyard haven featuring native Missouri plants, such as this white fringe tree, abloom with long fleecy panicles that release a fragrant scent that lightly perfumes the spring air.

Photo courtesy of Ann Groskurth