Help me understand the importance of native plants

[Anonymous]

This is the MD law, which should be a model for other states. And see the pic in the article. Native/habitat yards can be gorgeous.


https://www.humanegardener.com/butterflies-1-hoa-bullies-0/
"If you live in a community governed by a homeowners association in Maryland, your HOA will soon no longer be allowed to require you to grow turfgrass. It can no longer prohibit you from planting native plants and creating wildlife habitat. The Maryland General Assembly has spoken, quietly and firmly, joining a growing number of states last week by passing House Bill 322, the low-impact landscaping legislation that specifically codifies your right to be wildlife-friendly, plant-friendly, and environmentally conscious."

[Anonymous]

Bees aren't native to this continent.

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/are-honey-bees-native-north-america?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products

Neither are many earthworms.
the earthworms in some northern parts of the country (including Vermont) aren’t indigenous. Thousands of years ago, glaciers that covered North America and reached as far south as present-day Illinois, Indiana and Ohio wiped out native earthworms. Species from Europe and Asia, most likely introduced unintentionally in ship ballast or the roots of imported plants, have spread throughout North America.

That said, whenever we mess around with introducing non native species including plants, we are messing with the delicate balance that helps the members of the ecosystem survive.

Example, bats need the special plants that they eat and pollinate. Bats keep mosquito populations low. Mosquitoes are a disease carrying problem for us. So it's in our best interest to ensure that the flora and fauna (and climate) continue to support bats so they can continue to help us and the health of OUR ecosystem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bees aren't native to this continent.

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/are-honey-bees-native-north-america?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products

Neither are many earthworms.
the earthworms in some northern parts of the country (including Vermont) aren’t indigenous. Thousands of years ago, glaciers that covered North America and reached as far south as present-day Illinois, Indiana and Ohio wiped out native earthworms. Species from Europe and Asia, most likely introduced unintentionally in ship ballast or the roots of imported plants, have spread throughout North America.

That said, whenever we mess around with introducing non native species including plants, we are messing with the delicate balance that helps the members of the ecosystem survive.

Example, bats need the special plants that they eat and pollinate. Bats keep mosquito populations low. Mosquitoes are a disease carrying problem for us. So it's in our best interest to ensure that the flora and fauna (and climate) continue to support bats so they can continue to help us and the health of OUR ecosystem.

1. Again, honeybees aren’t native, but there are 4,000 native bees. That’s not counting flies (some of which pollinate!), butterflies (same) and birds (big time pollinators).
2. Why are you talking about earthworms? They’re not pollinators. Yes, everyone knows they’re invasive. Not invasive: untold numbers of bacteria, funguses, nematodes and other creepy crawlies that thrive in healthy soil, soil that is attainable when you have natives.

None of us are talking about agriculture, but do you know how much nutrition is no longer in our food because we have stripped the soil? It’s all part of a piece and I’m glad OP is interested in improving her patch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the MD law, which should be a model for other states. And see the pic in the article. Native/habitat yards can be gorgeous.


https://www.humanegardener.com/butterflies-1-hoa-bullies-0/
"If you live in a community governed by a homeowners association in Maryland, your HOA will soon no longer be allowed to require you to grow turfgrass. It can no longer prohibit you from planting native plants and creating wildlife habitat. The Maryland General Assembly has spoken, quietly and firmly, joining a growing number of states last week by passing House Bill 322, the low-impact landscaping legislation that specifically codifies your right to be wildlife-friendly, plant-friendly, and environmentally conscious."

We are not in a hood with an HOA, but this is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many other kinds of pollinators besides your standard European honey bee (which isn't even native). Take a look at Brookside gardens and visit their pollinator area. Look very closely at the flowers. You'll see many smaller insects and what look like super tiny miniature bees. Those are also very important pollinators. Native plants help to create a biodiversity that are suitable for those kinds of pollinators.

Brookside is awesome, but not all native. I have t noticed as many pollinators there this year either.

[Anonymous]

Brookside Gardens has plenty of non-natives and they also use pesticides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brookside Gardens has plenty of non-natives and they also use pesticides.

Aha, hence the lack of butterflies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brookside Gardens has plenty of non-natives and they also use pesticides.

Aha, hence the lack of butterflies.

I was just there last weekend for the first time since I’ve gotten interested in gardening with native plants. I was very surprised that they had a TON of the butterfly bush (buddelia..sp?) and didn’t have any section devoted special to natives. Unless you count the “children’s garden” which is very small and has few plants.
They also have a lot of annuals, it seems to me, which I don’t think is necessarily bad but for people looking to get ideas on sustainable gardens (eg that they don’t need to replant each year), there isn’t much inspiration.
Are there other public gardens in the area that show off what can be achieved with natives in terms of garden design/landscape possibilities ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brookside Gardens has plenty of non-natives and they also use pesticides.

Aha, hence the lack of butterflies.

I was just there last weekend for the first time since I’ve gotten interested in gardening with native plants. I was very surprised that they had a TON of the butterfly bush (buddelia..sp?) and didn’t have any section devoted special to natives. Unless you count the “children’s garden” which is very small and has few plants.
They also have a lot of annuals, it seems to me, which I don’t think is necessarily bad but for people looking to get ideas on sustainable gardens (eg that they don’t need to replant each year), there isn’t much inspiration.
Are there other public gardens in the area that show off what can be achieved with natives in terms of garden design/landscape possibilities ?

The national Garden in the outdoor section of the USBG. https://www.usbg.gov/national-garden