By RUTH ANN INGRAHAM, guest columnist

The Xerces Society is among my favorite environmental organizations. It focuses on invertebrates ranging from monarch butterflies to lobsters. An article in the society’s recent publication begins with this Mark Twain quote: “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.”

I found my “why” in 1992, when first introduced by Kay Yatskievych to the concept of native plants and societies that support them. Since then, a significant portion of my time and energy has been devoted to fostering the use and conservation of native plants.

The flip side of this, and no less important, is addressing the negative impact of exotic invasives. In 2006, I helped found the Brown County Native Woodlands Project which encourages natives and discourages invasives.

The upcoming Nature Daze is one of many approaches BCNWP takes to help us learn about and act upon this challenging relationship.

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Nature Daze 2019 is Saturday, Sept. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to mid-afternoon at Camp Rancho Framasa, on Clay Lick Road in Brown County. An ample, yummy and free lunch is included, thanks to generous donors.

As always, adults learn from the multiple topics offered. And kids, aged 5 to 15, get involved in fun-filled outdoor activities, planned and led by camp staff. Adults may want to be a kid for the day considering these sessions: Backyard Bird Nests, Discovery Hike, Living with the Land, Journaling Like a Naturalist, a bounce house and a creek stomp.

Although topics vary year to year, native plants are always featured and are available to purchase. We will learn more about exotic invasive species, develop an appreciation for the wildlife that calls Brown County home, and add to our knowledge about how to be good land stewards.

Some speakers are back by popular demand: Sharon Sorenson, Ellen Jacquart and Dan Shaver. Gillian Fields, Geriann Albers, Tommy Gunn and staff from Sycamore Land Trust may be newcomers to the roster, but all are experts in their areas of interest.

Morning topics and their presenters are:

Neighborhood Invasive Plant Control: Ellen and Gillian share what’s been done in a dozen Bloomington neighborhoods where invasives have been a problem and where a collective approach is used to tackle invasives and to replace them with natives. Ellen, retired from The Nature Conservancy, now volunteers in many capacities, including as president of Indiana Native Plant Society. An Australian native, Gillian works for Bloomington’s Herald-Times. Through Ellen and Gillian we will learn an approach to apply to our own communities and neighborhoods.

Muskrat Love and Hate — Wildlife in your Pond: Geriann, IDNR furbearer biologist, knows how we love our ponds. Wildlife does too — fine until we think that we have a problem. Learn to accept wildlife in and around our ponds, how to deal with problems, the benefits mammals such as muskrats can provide, and their connection to invasive plants. Have questions? Geriann will have answers.

Ice Age to Oak Tree: Forest Succession and Natural Disturbance: Dan Shaver, The Nature Conservancy’s Brown County Hills Project, talks about the past, present and future of Brown County forests. Dan answers questions about many related topics, from timber harvesting to forest openings, climate change, wildlife and invasive species.

Planting Natives for Lovely Landscapes and Beautiful Birds: Sharon knows from personal experience that native plants live longer, are drought resistant, rarely if ever require fertilizer, and are easy to maintain. They delight our senses and provide needed resources for migrating and resident birds. Sharon shines a light on her lovely landscape created with native plants and on the birds that appreciate that habitat. Her most recent book, “Planting Native,” will be available to buy at Nature Daze.

In the afternoon, attendees may choose to stay at Camp Rancho Framasa or to “take a hike.”

Low-tech Invasive Plant Control: Tommy applies his degree in forestry to TNC’s Forest Bank Program. Part of his work involves battling invasive plants. He knows firsthand how to deal with invasive plant control and focuses on equipment, herbicides and techniques.

The Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill: This rugged preserve, owned and managed by Sycamore Land Trust, is part of a huge block of contiguous forest habitat that protects songbirds, raptors and box turtles. Take a guided hike from ridge line to valley and back on a trail built by the Hoosier Hikers Council.

As mentioned above, Nature Daze is one part of the bigger picture. What is going on regionally?

• With a SCI-REMC Operation Roundup grant, BCNWP completed treatment of invasives at Eagle Park.
• Brown County State Park has experienced a significant reduction in invasives, such as Japanese stiltgrass, thanks to the volunteer leadership of Len Logterman and to educator/naturalist Patrick Haulter.
• Indiana’s Terrestrial Invasive Plant Rule is in place. Go to in.gov/dnr/6351.htm for more information.
• Ongoing treatment in Yellowwood and Morgan-Monroe state forests has resulted in a noticeable reduction of invasive plants along the roadsides.
• In Brown County, free individual landowner surveys of invasive and native plants continue through BCNWP and SWCD.
• Control of kudzu and Japanese knotweed continues.

For additional information about Nature Daze and to register, go to bcnwp.org.

And if you haven’t yet discovered your “why” in life, perhaps Nature Daze is where it happens.

Ruth Ann Ingraham is a board member of the Brown County Native Woodlands Project.