Today we are spotlighting Grow Native! Certified Pro Jenny Wilson, who became certified in 2022. Jenny works with Confluence Habitats, a Grow Native! professional member in St. Louis, Missouri.
Jenny has worked on a number of native plantings and especially loves public-facing projects.
For instance, the Oakville High School garden was designed by Erin Goss, the Native Plant Initiative Coordinator for Shaw Nature Reserve, funded through a grant by the Missouri Department of Conservation, and installed by Jenny with the help of school staff. “The garden spans a large bed in front of the building that was previously neglected and occasionally weeded by the football team,” said Jenny. We removed the top few inches of mulch and soil to reduce the weed seed bank, and then temporarily covered the soil surface with landscaping fabric to prevent weed germination prior to planting. We also installed irrigation to make watering easier during the establishment period, and the staff did an amazing job of watering regularly–the first year growth reflects their diligence.”
Another favorite project type for Jenny is St. Louis City hilly front yard removal. This landscaping approach replaces turf on steep, dangerous hills that can be dangerous to mow with densely planted native flora. “This type of density is especially important when we remove turf grass and expose soil during a garden installation on a steep slope, to prevent erosion during plant establishment,” Jenny explained.
Hilly front yard project in St. Louis, Missouri. Completed in 2024.
Jenny, and her business partner Chris, use trial gardens on their own properties to test plant varieties and combinations. “Chris and I both have backgrounds in organic farming and gardening, and he has been involved in various building and construction projects since he was a young child.” “Our respective knowledge bases bring tools and methods that are not always utilized in landscaping and that allow us to be both creative and efficient with our clients’ projects.”
A sample of Jenny’s trial garden.
When asked about what drives her work, Jenny observed, “Personally, I am motivated to continue in this work every time I see a bird. We humans have taken away so much from them, and working in this field allows me the chance to grow food and habitat for insects and the birds that so badly need them. For a long time I was primarily focused on growing food and fiber for human use, which I still do and enjoy, but considering the needs of non-human creatures, and helping our clients to do the same, has been quite rewarding.”
Jenny was ushered into the native plant world through connections with other native plant creatives, including Chris Carl of Grow Native! professional member Studio Land Arts, and Grow Native! Certified Pro Allana Ross, of Grow Native! professional member Dig Annuals and Perennials.
In 2025, the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program is 25 years old. For a quarter century, this native plant education and marketing program has been a significant catalyst for the growth of the native landscaping movement in the lower Midwest and beyond. Certification offered by Grow Native! is a voluntary program that provides recognition of an individual’s knowledge and skills related to working with native plants in a professional capacity. Since launching in 2022, more than 30 native plant professionals have earned credentials through the Grow Native! Professional Certification Program. Learn more here.
