Why native plants?
I moved to Maine in the summer on 2022. You might say I am from “away”. And I moved to an island of all places, where the community is even more tight-knit. I lived most of my life on the west coast of the US, and gardening has always been a way of life. But I did not understand how important it is to add native plants into our gardens for a long time.
When I lived in Portland OR, my two next-door neighbors had Certified Native Habitats signs in their gardens. I knew them well, and spent time in their gardens. However, they never mentioned their reasons for having an all native plants garden. I on the other hand, was busy “rescuing” plants that no one wanted (gardeners understand this all too well), without paying too much attention to what they were. I was definitely aware of the bees and butterflies on my plants (and not using any chemicals, or even vinegar, or soapy water), but it didn’t go much beyond that.
Over time I understood the need for having more native plants in our gardens, and removing invasive species. Native plants have co-existed with certain types of insects for many years, and have a symbiotic relationship. Insects and “bugs” can’t survive on many non-native species. The plants we grow are their food. I just never looked at it that way, but once the concept was presented to me, I couldn’t see it any other way.
Of course we want to feed the insects, which feed the birds, which spread the seeds, and so on…. Of course we want to feed the pollinators and keep them in our gardens thru the seasons, so they are born, live and die there, depositing their eggs for future generations…. So what if leaves have holes in them, so what if we have aphids… they attract ladybugs, which eat the aphids…
We want to help feed the bugs and pollinators and other creatures that abound in our gardens, as well as maintain a healthy habitat for birds, bats and our entire tiny ecosystem.
Like Douglas Tallamy says in his books Bringing Nature Home and Nature’s Best Hope, we are the ones who can help. Each one of us can do our part in adding more natives. Not only do we help pollinators and other creatures we have no idea exist, but make a small difference for the whole, starting right here, in our gardens. There is nothing better than that I think! It doesn’t mean do it all at once, it doesn’t mean scrap everything non-native in our gardens, but it means paying attention to what we are buying, planting, sharing.
I love the awareness of being able to do something, my part in helping bring more harmony where I live, and enhance life in the garden. I believe many of us stress or are at least very aware of the issues with climate change, pollution, the environment, animals, you name it. We can feel we have a voice in our gardens. We can do something, albeit small, to give back, all the while enjoying our beautiful gardens and the plants in it.
Solidago canadensis, goldenrod, all over our property….
Just some beautiful rocks, the remnant of a rock wall from what the stories say, surrounded by natives and weeds…
