Reducing greenhouse gases, conserving water, guarding against flooding, providing habitats for birds and insects are a few reasons why Wild Ones, a nonprofit organization, promotes replacing lawns with native plants. To help people learn how to help slow down global warming and prevent extinction of America's birds and insects, Wild Ones is sponsoring a one-day conference called: Natural Landscaping with Native Plants.

Using native plants to replace lawn grass helps in slowing down global warming because native plants have long, fibrous roots which absorb carbon from the atmosphere. Roots of native plants also absorb, filter, and release water into the ground slowly, preventing flooding. Native plants are drought-resistant and do not require artificial watering. Considerable energy is wasted to purify and pump the water used to irrigate yards. In addition, water is a scarce commodity in many areas making conservation vital. So much land has been developed that public lands no longer provide enough food for migrating birds and butterflies. Landscaping with native plants sustains American birds and insects which depend on our yards for their survival.

To register, visit www.for-wild.org. If you have questions, call 414-299-9888, press 3. There will be a cafeteria lunch provided or you may bring your own.