By Robert Kendall, Urban Conservationist
MCSWCD is set to table at the 33rd Annual Bug Fest at Southeastway Park on August 30th, 2026 from 12PM to 4PM. Bug Fest is an event celebrating the importance of insects and all things buggy since 1992.
MCSWCD’s table will encourage the planting of native plants to support Indiana’s native pollinators. Native plants have co-evolved with other plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria, as well as with the climate, light, and soil conditions of a particular habitat and region, thereby playing meaningful roles in maintaining the stability of specific ecosystems. We will provide two educational resources for the installation of natives in gardens. The following MCSWCD’s physical booklets will be available:
- Native Plantings for Beneficial Insects & Pollinators
Available on our website HERE
- Rain Gardens for Homeowners
Available on our website HERE
These user-friendly booklets feature great photos of example gardens, diagrams about the benefits of natives, and charts detailing the growth patterns of some native plants to help find specific plants for the space available. In addition to the booklets, we will also have packets of native seeds available. These seed packets contain a mix of Purple Coneflower, Yellow Coneflower, Hairy Penstemon, and New England Aster—all species that not only feed insects but also attract hummingbirds.
Please come by our table within the Pollinator Pod area to learn more!
Pre-register HERE
