Loose Park Native Plant Demonstration Gardens
Kansas City, MO
Top image: click the arrows to see
additional photos.
Photos: Sarah Beier and
Westport Garden Club volunteers
Size: 1,100 square feet across three gardens
Year established: 2016 and 2018
Year inducted: 2021
Category: Volunteer managed by Westport Garden Club
Entrance Fee: Free
Description: The native demonstration gardens in Loose Park consist of three beds located at the entrance to the Loose Park Garden Center building. The Monarch Demonstration Garden is the largest single bed, at 600 square feet, and is full sun. The Native Plant Shade Gardens are located to the left and right of the garden center entrance, and are approximately 250 square feet each.
Volunteers from the Westport Garden Club have met regularly to maintain the gardens through every growing season since their installation. Most maintenance consists of hand-pulling weeds, occasional deadheading of enthusiastic re-seeders, and staking of taller plants such as compass plant. In the winter, most foliage is left fully standing or cut short leaving a portion of the stem behind. Warm-season grasses and most seed heads are left for winter interest and wildlife benefit throughout the winter.
The Monarch Demonstration Garden was installed as part of the successful 2015 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Monarch Conservation Grant project spearheaded by Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City. The monarch garden was a joint effort between partners Burroughs Audubon, The Westport Garden Club, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Grow Native!, Powell Gardens, and Deep Roots KC. Two years later, a generous gift from the Jean Mary Love Blackman family enabled the planting of two additional beds.
All three beds were designed by horticulturist and plantsman Alan Branhagen. They were originally planted with plugs. The designs have been allowed to evolve slightly over time, with an eye to honoring the original intent.
Previously, the gardens were planted with annuals and tulips, heavily fertilized, and pre-emergent applied as well as mulched. The retained nutrient-richness from their previous lives has been a challenge (10- foot compass plants require heavy duty stakes!)
Many events are hosted throughout the year at the Loose Park Garden Center Building. Deep Roots KC has hosted multiple events for the public, conference attendees, and even state legislators in the gardens. A nearby school—Pembroke Hill—brings classes to the gardens for education and for playtime in the surrounding lawns.
What Makes this Garden Excellent:
The presence of a well-maintained, attractive native plant garden in one of the most visible areas of prestigious Loose Park is a mark of excellence in itself. The ongoing, dedicated maintenance—in all types of weather—by the volunteers of The Westport Garden Club has made all the difference to the success of these three gardens.
Ten Great Native Plants to See Here:
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Asclepias purpurascens (purple milkweed)
Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)
Carex jamesii (James’ sedge)
Zizia aurea (heartleaf golden Alexanders)
Packera obovata (roundleaf groundsel)
Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit)
Silphium laciniatum (compass plant)
Glandularia canadensis (rose verbena)
Signage: Signage at the gardens encourage visitors to add native plants to their own garden and yard. Plant labels and interpretive signage. Coming soon: QR code to access an interactive website specific to the Monarch Garden.
Accessibility: Walkways are ADA accessible. Accessible parking spaces are located to the east of the Garden Center Building. Senior citizen parking is located to the west. Paths are paved, level, and well-maintained.
Location:
5200 Pennsylvania Ave
Kansas City, MO 64112
Coordinates:
39° 2′ 4.956” N 94° 35′ 31.1568” W
39.033485, -94.594224
Area Hours:
5 a.m. to Midnight
For More Information:
Contact Kathy Gates (Westport Garden Club) at kfggkc@gmail.com