CLS and Associates, LLC

05/26/2026

WHAT DOES NATIVE REALLY MEAN? THE MAN BEHIND THE MAPS

When you look up whether a plant is native to your county, chances are you're looking at John Kartesz's data, even if you don't know it. Over the past five decades, he's personally documented and mapped the distributions of over 33,000 plant taxa across North America, building the dataset that underpins the tools conservationists, nurseries, and native plant apps all rely on.

In the upcoming webinar on May 27, John shares stories from decades of fieldwork and digs into the questions gardeners are actually wrestling with: What does "native" really mean? How is nativity determined at the county level? How local should your plant choices actually be? And what about that messy middle ground, like non-native species that aren't technically invasive?

Whether you're deep into native plant gardening or just starting to pay attention to what's growing in your yard, this is a rare chance to learn directly from the person behind the data that shapes how we all think about native plants.

Can't make it live? Recording will be sent to Less Lawn More Life participants within 24 hours.

Transform your yard into a living, thriving habitat. Get personalized native plant recommendations for your exact location.

05/26/2026

Each spring in our gardens, you may notice these familiar yellow flowers emerging in your yard, even if you don’t want them there. You may be surprised, however, to hear that this resilient w**d has a decorated history of cultural and medicinal usage. In fact, the second part of dandelion’s scientific name, Taraxacum officinale, signifies that this plant was once listed in official medicine lists.

Dandelion was, and continues to be, an important plant for the Anishinaabe, the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region. The vitamin-rich dandelion leaves and stems helped the Anishinaabe combat vitamin deficiencies in difficult late-winter times. Its roots are consumed for protein, calcium, potassium, and other important minerals, and can even be made into a coffee-like energizing drink.

In addition, dandelions provide a rare, natural source of body-assimilable copper. Made into a tea, it is given to those suffering from liver issues and arthritis. For the Anishinaabe, dandelion also has an artistic use; its roots can be crushed to produce a natural magenta dye. The next time you see this familiar w**d, take a moment to appreciate all that it has offered to humans.

Credit: The Morton Arboretum 2026, https://mortonarb.org/

05/21/2026

It's time for Challenge #3 in the series!
This week is hosted by Rebecca McMackin: ecological horticulturist, TED speaker, and one of the most compelling voices in native plant gardening. If you don't already subscribe to her newsletter, you should—it's one of the best reads in the native plant world.
Watch her short video below for a quick primer on why natives are the backbone of a healthy yard, how to get yours planted this week, and how to tackle the challenge this week:

This week, ecological horticulturist Rebecca McMackin walks you through the most important step in the challenge: getting native plants in the ground.Rebecca...

05/07/2026

The 12-Week Less Lawn More Life Challenge kicks off today with Robin Wall Kimmerer!
Sign up for free and - if you can't watch live - get tonight's recording once you complete Challenge #1 for
https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/

04/30/2026

🤩 One week away! A free webinar with the amazing Robin Wall Kimmerer, author and botanist with deep roots in the Native American wisdom of living with the earth. 🌳🌎💚

04/29/2026

Less lawn, more life 🌱
The Less Lawn More Life Challenge is a free 12-week program to help you turn your yard into a thriving ecosystem, one simple step at a time.

✔️ Weekly guidance
✔️ Expert tips
✔️ Track your impact

Starts May 7. Join the movement to restore native habitat right where you live.

🔗 lesslawnmorelife.com

04/25/2026

Discovering beauty at the Central States ASLA in St Louis, Missouri.

04/08/2026

We’re excited to be there this weekend!

Join us for a fantastic day as STASH welcomes local growers and non-profits for the third annual Native Plant Festival! Happening from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 11th at 412 E. Main St. in east downtown Norman, it’s the perfect opportunity to connect with nature and your community.

WE'LL BE THERE! Will you? We can't wait to see you!

04/04/2026

👏 So proud for Connie! She’s definitely earned that lifetime achievement award from OKC Beautiful for years tirelessly advocating for Oklahoma’s native plants and wildlife. 🫡

04/04/2026

Proud to have committed people & organizations working on behalf of pollinators & people here in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden