Ann Knudsen will discuss the resource savings, health benefits and ecological gains of using natives instead of exotics. Hear how natives benefit the environment, the community and the homeowner or apartment dweller.

Native Texan Ann Knudsen’s interest in native plants grew from playing in the wildflower fields of her youth and her mother's love of gardening. Ann is a Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, and active in the North Central chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas.

She has been involved with NPSOT's landscaping certification program and, with her mentor, Molly Hollar, took several UT-sponsored classes through the LBJ Wildflower Center and NPSOT. When Molly retired after nearly twenty-five years coordinating the Molly Hollar Wildscape in Veterans Park, she asked Ann to fill that position.

Since 2007, Ann's business, Native Gardener, has specialized in native landscape maintenance and design.