Why Choose Native Plants for Your Lake Property with Jacob Macke

In Episode 19 of The Lake Doctor Podcast, we welcome Jacob Macke, owner of Chapman Lake Nursery and a passionate engineer-turned-native plant grower. Jacob shares his inspiring journey—after erosion threatened his new Chapman Lake home during windy storms, he discovered native plants' deep roots for shoreline stabilization. Starting with milkweed during the 2020 COVID summer, his family raised and released over 50 monarch butterflies—sparking a deep dive into native gardening.

He explains key benefits: native plants like swamp rose mallow, showy tick trefoil, and butterfly weed thrive in Indiana's soils, filter nutrients from runoff, support pollinators and wildlife, and prevent monocultures when mixed with grasses. Jacob contrasts true natives (like butterfly weed) with non-native invasives (like butterfly bush), offers tips on establishment, rabbit protection, and seed collecting, and highlights his local sales, events, and upcoming workshops at the Lilly Center. Tune in for an uplifting story of how one homeowner’s fix can serve as a blueprint for healthy lakes and thriving wildlife across Indiana.

Learn more about the Lilly Center's work at https://lakes.grace.edu/.

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