From a small indoor plant to a gorgeous, glowing garden, plants are known for making people feel gleeful by simply espying them or smelling their scents. But what if anyone with even a square foot of outdoor space could make wildlife happy too? From the birds and the bees to butterflies and beneficial bugs, all may flourish within a native plant landscape. Equipped with some tips and information, everyone can do their part, large or small, to make the garden a better place for all.
What are some popular natives that people may already have growing?
Some favorites I commonly see are purple coneflower, pussy willow, black-eyed Susan, oak trees, native hydrangea, milkweed, inkberry, winterberry, redbud, and dogwood.
Will a native garden be as colorful and beautiful as a “traditional” garden?
Yes, natives exhibit all the colors, shapes, sizes, structures, patterns, textures, fragrances and bloom times that make any well-tended garden gorgeous and inviting. And they are especially attractive in that they integrate fully with the existing food web of wildlife. Introduced plants do not provide healthy sources of food.
What are some specific wildlife that will benefit from planting natives?
Native wildlife benefits most from native plants and a chemical free landscape. Most visible are bees, birds, butterflies, lightning bugs, and other beneficial insects collecting pollen and nectar. Less noticed by most people are the native stream dwellers like brook trout and macroinvertebrates. Studies have also shown that stream wildlife needs native plants to be next to streams as part of the food web.
Why are pollinators so important?
Native pollinators are essential to the life of one-third of all food crops and 90% of all flowers. A lot of foods such as coffee, honey, chocolate, and various fruits and vegetables would not be available if there were no pollinators.
Where can someone acquire native plants?
We have available a list of native plant sources that includes local and regional nurseries, online sources, and also events where you can purchase plants that are native to our ecoregion. It’s important to purchase plants that are neonicotinoid free also.
Locally what help is there for someone interested in learning more about native habitats and gardens?
The Lancaster Conservancy’s Community Wildlife Habitat Initiative teaches the community by having free site assessments of properties. NWF Habitat Stewards are trained to visit your property to help you identify the plants you have. They then provide resource material to help you learn about wildlife habitat. We train habitat steward volunteers every spring to do all sorts of projects in the community.
Our featured expert is a PA Master Naturalist (amongst other certifications) who coordinates with the Lancaster Conservancy. She also started the partnership with Lancaster Conservancy and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to train habitat steward volunteers. This year, Lancaster County is on track to be the first county in PA certified by the NWF.
For more information on plant sale events or to schedule a site assessment of home, school, or worship center, feel free to email Linda at lferich@lancasterconservatory.org.
LINDA FERICH | OF LANCASTER CONSERVANCY
