ADVANTAGES OF NATIVE-PLANT GARDENING
Reasons to Go Native:
* "Native plants are adapted to the local climate, soil and hydrology conditions where they naturally occur. These important plant species provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds and other animals." --U.S. Forest Service
* "Plants native to an area are more likely to establish quickly and will naturally be hardy and healthy. Native plants have evolved over thousands of years, learning to thrive in particular areas—they grow in harmony with the environment, the soil, the water supply, the varying weather throughout all the seasons, and other native companions. Their root systems are deep, sometimes up to 15 feet, and acclimated to the soil, be it clay or sand, and average precipitation, whether it is high or low. Their stems and leaves can handle harsh sun or buffeting winds, for example, if that is the nature of the local environment. They are also part of a larger natural ecosystem." --American Society of Landscape Architects
* Most native species are not fussy, and require much less watering and fertilizer than 'alien' plants.
* Natives have evolved defenses to many diseases and insect pests.
* Many natives self-sow, and are easily divided for sharing with gardening neighbors and friends.
* Natives are suitable for a wide range of site conditions and landscape designs.
* Plantings of natives can be well-manicured or naturalized, depending on gardeners' personal preferences.
* And consider this message from the National Audubon Society: "In the face of climate change, which Audubon science shows is the number one threat to North American birds, birds need all the help we can give. Switching from lawns to native plants will not only provide beauty, support pollinators, and encourage biodiversity -- it will build up birds' defenses and increase their resilience to the dangerous effects of warming temperatures."
