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Insects are in trouble
Climate change and habitat destruction are reducing the number and types of insects worldwide. Since about two-thirds of the food we eat is pollinated by insects, our own survival may hinge on their fate.
Homegrown National Parks Doug Tallamy, an entomologist and professor at the University of Delaware, has developed the Homegrown National Park Initiative. Our national parks are for wildlife, but they are spread too far apart to allow wildlife from one park to migrate to another park to find a mate. Seventy-eight percent of the land in the lower United States is privately owned. Everyone must do their part by planting things that provide migrating wildlife, including insects, a travel corridor between national parks and other wild areas.
This keeps isolated populations from becoming genetically stunted due to inbreeding. Tallamy’s 20 million acre goal represents half of lawns or other lands that can be easily converted to natural landscapes. Not only does this provide a habitat for wild things, but it also sequesters more carbon, reduces water usage, and reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
While the initiative talks about replacing lawns with native plant species, it recognizes that not everyone can do that
However, if each of us removes one non-native plant from our landscape and plants a native plant there instead, we can provide a bridge across habitats for vital pollinators and other beneficial insects. Insects and other wildlife can travel from one significant habitat to the next large habitat by stopping and resting and feeding at the native plants in people’s yards.
Monarch Waystations
If you live in a part of the country where the monarch butterfly migrates, you may have heard of the Monarch Waystation concept taught by Monarch Watch. Planting native milkweed species for monarch butterflies to lay their eggs on and shelter in gives this imperiled butterfly a fighting chance. The Homegrown Parks Initiative expands this idea to all species of insects as well as other wildlife. No Yard Required People without a yard can put native plants in flowerpots on their porch or balcony and help. Every little bit helps, especially if all of us pitch in. You can also ask your local parks department to plant more native and less turfgrass.
Planting wildflowers instead of lawns can save the parks department a substantial amount of money on mowing, fertilizers, and pesticides
If you live in an area managed by a property management company, you can request they use more native plants. What Is A Native Plant? A native plant is a plant that is adapted to the conditions of that area. It has evolved to manage the amount of rainfall, temperature range, and pest population naturally occurring in an area. The plant is resistant to common diseases in that area. Of course, all plants need supplemental water when getting established or in a significant drought, but they manage the rest of the time with little from you. This means that once the plant is established, it requires very little supplemental water, fertilizer, or pesticides to grow and thrive in that area.
Contrast that with turf grass, which needs lots of water and fertilizer and often needs chemicals to control diseases and pests so the grass can grow.
Finding Native Plants
More and more nurseries are stocking plants native to the region where they operate. Of course, different plants are native to other areas of the country, so there isn’t just one list of native plants. You can use several resources to find what is native where you live. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center This center in Austin has a list of plants native to the United States. If you go to the plant's database and scroll down to the combination search, you can choose your area of the country and specify things like the amount of sun, soil moisture, bloom season, bloom color, and other characteristics.
The database will return a list of native plants that match your area and your criteria. If you want to see if a plant you fancy is native to your area, you can enter the plant name on the search page. The information on each plant specifies where it is native to and what habitat it will be happiest in.
Native Plant Society
The North American Native Plant Society has chapters all over the country. Their goal is to teach people to plant only native plants in their landscapes. While you may not be ready to tear out your lawn and non-native plants, you can know what native perennials and annuals live in your area. Native plantings can produce a spectacular show if given a chance with much less water and other inputs than non-native plant Extension Service In the United States, a network of Extension Service offices is charged with helping people make the most of their resources to live healthy lives.
Extension was started to help people understand the research being conducted and put the discoveries to use. For example, an experiment station may research how to grow peaches. Extension agents teach that research to people growing peaches as a cash crop. They also teach it to people growing peaches in their backyard.
Extension agents can provide lists of native plants that grow in the area. They also give short lectures on all the plants in the area. Many more populated areas have a master gardener program that provides speakers on how to grow practically everything, including native plants, to interested clubs. You can find your Extension state office here, leading you to your local Extension office.
Extension information is provided to you at no cost, although some workshops and classes charge a nominal fee.
Nurseries Like Us
TN Nursery can help you in several ways. We offer curated lists of native plants that feed pollinators, hummingbirds, and other birds with nectar, pollen, or fruit and grow in your zone. If you have a list of plants you want to put in your yard, find them on our website and build an order to deliver them right to your door. Check out TN Nurseries' blog for some of the latest information on plant trends and solutions to your plant issues. Finally, if you have specific questions, feel free to contact us.
Easiest Plants To Make Your Own Waystation With To Attract Monarch
Check Our Other Pollinator Plants Below
