What happens after you plant a meadow? Following Part 1 of the series: From Lawn to Meadow (Part I): Designing & Planting Native Meadows with Emily Sampson (Patchwork Meadows), Nathan Buchanan of Wildbud Natives focuses on the critical establishment period and long-term management needed for meadow success.
Participants will learn what to expect in the months and years following installation, including how to identify and manage weeds, address common challenges, and prevent meadows from transitioning into woody growth or being overtaken by invasive species. Nathan will share practical, experience-based strategies for guiding a meadow through its early stages and maintaining its health over time.
This class is ideal for those who have attended Part I (on Aug 8th) or anyone with an existing or planned meadow who wants to better understand how to care for it. Together, Parts I and II provide a complete roadmap from installation to long-term success.
Instructor: Guided by mentors—both human and botanical—instructor Nathan Buchanan has spent years studying how native plant communities function and how those lessons can be applied to residential, commercial, and conservation projects. His work focuses on restoring biodiversity, supporting pollinators and wildlife, and helping people create landscapes that are both beautiful and ecologically meaningful.
Nathan is particularly drawn to meadows for their resilience, layered structure, and ability to reconnect people with the living landscape. Through his Western North Carolina nursery and consulting business, Wildbud Natives, he is dedicated to growing and promoting native plants for resilient, ecologically rich landscapes while also designing, installing, and managing native meadows throughout the region. Drawing from hands-on experience and a deep knowledge of Southern Appalachian flora, Nathan shares practical strategies for creating thriving plant communities. A few of his favorite species include Penstemon smallii, Juncus tenuis, Danthonia compressa, Andropogon ternarius, and Liatris helleri.
Class will meet at Asheville Botanical Gardens (indoor class)
151 W.T. Weaver Blvd. Asheville, NC 28804
Class limit: 40
COST: $25 for non-Members, ABG Members take 25% OFF at checkout
ABG Members: to apply your member discount, enter the discount code: CLASSES25 at the checkout page.