Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent virtual event, Plants with Purpose with Monika Maeckle! Your presence, energy, and fantastic questions made it an evening to remember. We’re always inspired by our community’s curiosity and passion for native plants—and this event was no exception.
If you missed it or want to watch again, we’ve got you covered!
👇 Watch the full recording here:
Rethinking What Plants Can Do
Monika Maeckle, San Antonio-based gardener, monarch advocate, and founder of Texas Butterfly Ranch, joined us to introduce her newly released book, Plants with Purpose: Twenty-five Ecosystem Multitaskers (Texas A&M Press, May 2025).
In her presentation, Monika shared how each plant featured in her book had to meet at least three of several meaningful criteria—ranging from supporting wildlife and being edible, to requiring low maintenance or having cultural significance. In her words, “Beauty is not enough anymore.”
She spotlighted several standout species, diving into the many ways plants can serve not only as landscape features but as tools for connection, restoration, and resilience.
Whether you’re a long-time native plant lover or just beginning to dig into ecological gardening, Monika’s talk offered fresh ways to think about the green things growing around us.
Want to learn more about Monika Maeckle and her work?
Visit her website at TexasButterflyRanch.com to explore her writing, gardening insights, pollinator advocacy, and more resources on native plants and purposeful landscapes.
Thanks again to everyone who joined us and helped make this event such a success. Let’s keep learning, planting, and growing—with purpose.
Until next time,
Wild Ones DFW & South Central Texas (Seedling) Chapter
Native Plants, Natural Landscapes
Connecting people and native plants for a healthier planet